[CF Devotionals] 2011-04-04 - Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days

The Songs of Lent ~ Part 4

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The song we will think about in this devotional is a sobering one. Several times, the stanzas remind us that we should not only be repentant for our sins; we should actually mourn for them. They should cause us grief, which in turn should lead to repentance from them. When you are "sorry" for a sin – whether it's cutting someone off in traffic, laughing at or even telling an inappropriate joke, losing your temper, flirting, or whatever – are you sorry because someone "caught" you and you are in trouble or shamed – or are you genuninely sorry that you grieved God, hurt others, and violated God's law?
Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

I encourage us all to use this wonderful song devotionally, by praying the lyrics to our Lord – not only during Lent, but anytime we need it.

 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days

Lord, Who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins,
and close by thee to stay.

As thou with Satan didst contend
and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
in thee to conquer sin.

As thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by thy most holy word.

And through these days of penitence,
and through thy Passiontide,
yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesus! with us abide.

Abide with us, that so, this life
of suffering over-past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last!

Words: Claudia F. Hernaman, 1873
Music: St. Flavian

Public Domain

[email jan] Janice P. Moser
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references are from the NASB unless otherwise noted.

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