Passport to Prayer
Lent 2016

Ash Wednesday – Feb. 10, 2016

Psalm 51:1-3: God, be merciful to me because of your faithful love. Because of your great compassion, erase all the wrongs I have done. Scrub away my guilt. Wash me clean from my sin. I know I have done wrong. I remember that sin all the time.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of another season of Lent. I’ve put together a Passport to Prayer, which is a way for people to work on their prayer lives during Lent. Each day, I’ll post about how we can embody prayer during Lent.

On Ash Wednesday, we remember we came out of dust and will return to dust. In between these two points in our lives, we will do many great things. We will also allow many hurtful things to happen. King David wrote these words after being confronted by his good friend Nathan for his sin. While initially he denied doing wrong, he realized how many lives his actions had affected. His response: Psalm 51.

Admitting our sin isn’t fun. In fact, it’s often very messy. Share some of the ways you’ve recently hurt God, yourself and others in this space:

Now, go to a sink. Lather your hands with soap. As you place your hands under the water and wash them, share this prayer aloud:

Gracious God, today begins a period of inner reflection and examination. May these next six weeks be a time when I become closer to you. You know all the sins that I have named as well as the ones I have not named. Please grant me your forgiveness. Thank you for being merciful with me. May I open my soul to you and allow your loving kindness to flow over me, as the water flows over my hands. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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