Day 28 of Lent: April 1, 2025

Joshua 1:8

“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.”

In this Lenten season, we are reminded that much of what we strive for—success, approval, control—will eventually return to dust. Our calendars are full, our minds are busy, our hearts distracted. But here in Joshua’s words is a sacred pause: meditate on God’s Word day and night. In other words—slow down, listen, reflect.

Ashes on our foreheads remind us of what fades. But God's Word endures forever. As Isaiah proclaims, “The grass withers, the flower fade: but the word of our God shall stand forever.”

The call in Joshua is not about achieving success in the world's terms but about aligning our lives with the heart of God. True prosperity, as God defines it, is not about accumulating wealth or power—it’s about walking faithfully in the way of the Lord.

Because of Easter, we know that the Word became flesh and lived among us. Jesus, the living Word, not only taught us how to live but walked through the valley of death and came out the other side. When we meditate on His life, death, and resurrection, we begin to treasure things that are eternal.

Between ashes and alleluias, we fix our hearts on the Word. It is there that we find the courage to keep going, the wisdom to discern truth, and the joy that does not rust or fade. When all else returns to dust, the promises of God still stand.

So let us carry Scripture on our lips, hold it in our hearts, and live it out with our hands. For in doing so, we will be preparing not just for Easter Sunday—but for the eternal alleluia that never ends.

Prayer

Faithful God,

Your Word is life and light for our path.

In this season of reflection, help us to slow down,

to listen, and to meditate on your promises.

Let your truth shape our choices,

and let your Spirit lead us from ashes to alleluia.

May our lives reflect your love,

and may our hearts be rooted in what will never pass away.

Amen.