Lenten Devotions: Day Eleven

Saturday, March 19

On Saturdays we invite you to write a short reflection on your experience of Lent. Consider what your Saturday reflection might sound like and where it is similar or different from the thoughts below.

What is it that others might testify against you?

Have you ever overhead people describing you to others? What adjectives do they use? What actions do they point to that are typical of you? Does your utter dependence on God shine through or is it overshadowed by your tendency to want to control or to have numerous back-up plans in case God doesn’t come through? Do they get a glimpse of the face of God?

One year for Lent my family decided to focus on growing our awareness and practice of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). At dinner each night, one person would draw a card with a picture of a fruit on it and a corresponding component of the fruit of the Spirit. (I loved the cherries with the word “gentleness.”) We then each described how we had seen that fruit and how we had demonstrated that fruit during the day.

While the fruit of the Spirit comes from the Holy Spirit within, it is possible to intentionally cooperate with the Spirit in living out our fruitfulness. This exercise helped us to glimpse the face of God daily.

Nancy Rhodes is vice president for finance and administration at Bread for the World.

Photo by Margie Nea.