🌱Strong: In You, I find true strength.

Week 9 Year of Breath: In Our Lent Era

I find the kingdom of God compelling because it takes everything we think we know about strength and power and invites us not to just flip these notions upside down — but to enter into an entirely new way of experiencing ourselves, God, and each other all together.

Whenever and wherever we turn apart from God, strength looks like power.

I’m captivated by the man who refused to strongarm others to do/think/believe in any way, even though he had access to all the power in the universe to do so. And who refused to be strongarmed himself when tempted to exert his power by the evil one in the wilderness.

Jesus shows us a whole lot about subversive strength.

But there’s a difference between knowing and believing in this radical reauthoring of strength.

This Lent season, what if you let your definition of strength be shaped and formed by the One who subverted — and continues to subvert — our human notions of what it is to be strong?

Breath Prayer:

Choose a breath prayer from below to carry into this week.

When you are overwhelmed by parenting, work, health struggles, relationships, household demands, money problems — oh, and an ever-aching world — remember to breathe.

As you breathe in, remember you have access to strength in the Spirit.

As you breathe out, rest in the promise that the One who gives each breath is your refuge and strength.

INHALE: In You, O God,

EXHALE: I find true strength

INHALE: O God who subverts power,

EXHALE: My strength is in You

INHALE: O Christ, may Your power

EXHALE: Rest on me

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