Ashes to Ashes

Welcome to Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which often focuses on the penitential Psalm 51 and encourages the people of God to:

Consider our mortal lives (ashes to ashes and dust to dust) in view of God’s immortality and our eternal lives to come.

Honestly access our actions, thoughts, and choices in Light of Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels.

Confess what needs confessing, acknowledging whatever is out of line with God’s will and/or His revealed purpose for our lives.

Change what needs changing, perhaps by asking ourselves “Is (was) this the loving thing to do?”

Receive the joy of God’s forgiveness through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection on that first Easter morning.

Begun in Ashes

Create in me a clean heart, O God
and renew a right spirit within
all who come to You
in sorrow for our sins.

When we’re out of line
with Your love, Lord,
we thank You for revealing
the truth and not hiding
our errors beneath ashes!

Praise You for making us
spotless
with pure forgiveness
we don’t deserve,
yet bringing us back
into Your embrace,
so we can face You again
without shame.

No matter where we go
in this life or this Lent
help us to glow, Lord,
as we walk in the Light
of Your Name.

by Mary Harwell Sayler
[Note: With some changes, this post was originally published as “Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down.”]