Hey there, not sure how many of you are giving Lent a go this year, but I really want to encourage you to try. I know not many of you are familiar with the season of Lent and the practices that accompany it, but it can be really special and really formative in your faith and in your relationship with Christ.

here’s a simple devotion you can try. Just add it to your daily practice, and if you don’t already have a daily prayer time, use this to kick-start one! Tear Fund is running a really easy and really good Lent devotion called Living Water. You can sign up online and they email you every day. Here’s a couple of samples from last week so you know what to expect.

I thought these two resonated strongly so far with the Servant Songs series at the Living Room that we’re doing. Enjoy!

LIVING WATER: LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS (thurs)

…Love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbour. (Romans 13:9-10)

I’m sure we can remember many times when we have been challenged to think about and respond to this call to love our neighbour as ourself. The events of the last year have challenged many to consider the issue of who their neighbour is and given us, as Christians, great opportunities to engage in such debates.

We are realising more and more that the way we live impacts others around the world – our neighbours may be on the other side of the planet. This verse from Romans reminds us that love means that we are seeking the good of all our neighbours.

Take time today to think again about our neighbours – local and global. Let us reflect on our lifestyle – how is the way we live, what we spend, and what we eat impacting our neighbours?

Prayer
Father God, help me to love my neighbours today, both near and far. Help me to have the sight to see opportunities and the courage to take them. Please give me a prophetic imagination for change and prompt me to make changes, and speak up, where I need to so that the way I live doesn’t harm other people. Amen

LIVING WATER: TRAIN UP A CHILD (fri)

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

The riverbank communities in San Pedro Sula consist largely of poor families who have migrated to the city from rural parts of the country in search of employment and the hope of a better future for their children.

But this is a city steeped in gang culture and drug trafficking. And with no employment opportunities, what hope is there for young people?

Thankfully, in Christ, there is always hope. Perhaps today you can think about young people you know who are also facing the challenges of the world around them and need our prayers to stay on the right path. Perhaps you are a young person who is seeking to share Christ’s love with your peers. How can we help this generation to embrace the way of Christ and live in his fullness?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the way, the truth and the life. We pray today that young people all over the world would find your way, embrace your truth and live in the power of your life. Amen.

Please consider giving to our Lent Appeal and help bring hope to young people like those in San Pedro Sula.

Find more simple daily Lent devotions and sign up at http://www.tearfund.org/en/lent_2017/