Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The imposition of ashes (traditionally the burned branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday service) marks the beginning of this annual spiritual renewal for the soul.
I think of Lent as a “spiritual spring cleaning.” It is a time to remove the clutter and dust in preparation for a new season of celebrating Christ’s victory over death.
This year, Lent came early for me. I did not want to wait until February 18. I needed a fresh infusion of Scripture, prayer, and life. So I started my Lenten practices in mid January.
Each morning I use The Daily Office of the Book of Common Prayer (Scripture readings from Psalms, The Old Covenant, the New Covenant, and the Gospels. Click here to see the app I use for this). I spend some time praying “The Jesus Prayer” in the hesychasm tradition, and I use the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian.
Ephrem lived between 306-379. He was a prolific author of hymns and scriptural commentaries, earning him titles like “The Harp of the Spirit,” and “Pillar of the Church.”
He wrote a prayer that is still used today during Lent. It has stood the test of time and experience.
O Lord and Master of My Life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness
Lust for power, and idle talk.
Give rather the spirit of chastity, humility,
Patience and love to Your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King!
Grant me to see my own error
And not to judge my brother.
For You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
My journey to wholeness in Christ begins with my submission to the lordship of Christ. “O Lord and Master of my life.” Prayer is the catalyst igniting the memory and knowledge of my redeemed status: I have been bought with a price. I am redeemed from slavery to death and sin. Now, I am joyfully a slave of Christ. He is my Lord, Master, and King. I, a slave of Christ, am the freest of men. The price of my redemption was paid. My purpose was secured through Him. I have been purchased, and I have been purposed.
Encountering the Living God I cry out from my broken human condition, “Take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust for power, and idle talk.”
“Take from me…” Wrench it from my secret grip. Twist and extract this malignant growth from the interior of my soul. This is my plea. This is my supplication.
You, my Sovereign Lord and Master, must take it from me, for I am unable to lay it down of my own will and power.
I surrender my darkness: the wreckage of my own ways, the dust and chaos of my exhausted soul. These I surrender. They are not treasures for you nor are they jewels for your crown. They are stains. Human stains. Take them from me.
“Take from me the spirit of sloth…” This strange laziness and passivity that pushes me down, down, and then down even more. This procrastination of righteousness convinces me change is nether desired nor necessary. Take from me this deep-seated cynicism that replies to every challenge with, “Why?” and “What for?” It makes my life a vast spiritual wasteland. Take it from me.
“Take from me faintheartedness,” this greatest danger to my spiritual life. Take from me the despondency that blinds me to all that is good and reduces everything to pessimism. Take it from me… it fills me with darkness and lies. Take it from me, renew a right spirit within me.
So begins my Lenten Journey towards the wholeness only the Resurrection can give.
To be continued….
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
