Mind Cleansing Preparation Exercises

Having concluded last week’s devotions, describing this week as promising a most precious and spiritual time, our faith and trust have been sharpened and as with diners, whose appetites have been tickled and enticed, we look forward to this precious week, as God allows.

For many of us, today is a time of awareness, most scary yet most sacred and solemn, as we are terribly conscious that this is the final Lord’s Day Sunday, before we begin our blessed season of Lent.

Emotions of all kinds are running high for many people on this Sunday, this first day of the second full week in the month of February. I dare to make such a statement, for I know that in my homeland for example, many people of all different races, creeds, and stations in life are all excited and full of jubilant zeal, as they make way for the two coming days before Ash Wednesday. Yes, it is on this Sunday, when the famous Dimanche Gras show takes place and many people, including visitors who have come to the island, expressly for Carnival, are all hyped up, ready to begin Monday’s celebration with J’ouvert, a pre-dawn happening.

I have brought this to you, as it has been also brought to me. Those who are Carnival enthusiasts, persons who believe in the culture, ethos and sheer joy of this season, are unashamed and unafraid to show the world their unquestionable belief, as they wholeheartedly participate in one way or another.

Today is the Lord’s Day Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and do I demonstrate my passion, love, zeal and utter loyalty and commitment to my Lord and Saviour, as I look forward to another season of Lent? Have I been preparing or am I preparing to walk this Lenten Season with our Jesus, fit and fixed in Him? What is your honest answer to these and other such questions?

I tell you, as I think today, of some of my relatives, who are posting pictures of their carnival costumes and those of their children, as I am shown their bands and given a bit of the sociological and historical backgrounds of some of the characters depicted in the bands, I really am silenced. I feel ashamed and guilty for they are not in the least bit shy to send material and pictures to me on the Carnival Season, but what do I send to them pertaining to the Lenten Season? I know that they are fully prepared for Carnival Monday and Tuesday, but am I fully prepared for Ash Wednesday, far more Lent?

I don’t know how this has come to you, for Carnival may not mean anything to you, but there are other celebrations in your life, for which you prepare. You will no doubt agree with me that the preparation time, depending on the celebration, carries its own thrills, excitement, surprises and more. It is most likely also that others, seeing you and hearing you, will be made aware of your celebrations and even want to be a part of them.

Before we begin our most solemn, dying and rising time with our Jesus, in this Season of Lent, will you join me in an exercise package, which has been offered to me? Perhaps you are engaging in your own preparation exercises and we thank God for that. Nevertheless, for those who have no specific preparation exercise, or even those who already have, I offer you this three-day exercise package. Preparation exercises, like any exercises, can be simple or elaborate. Ours is very simple, but in faith, we trust our Instructor and Leader, Jesus. These exercises come from our Lord Himself to His Church, you and I, as we need to be in fit shape for us to journey with Him through this Lenten Season.

Since our Loving Head has brought us to this realisation of our fallen state, as truthfully spoken at the end of last week, we need to heed and, Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelation 2: 5a.

We are called to undertake three things, three specified exercises, from the quoted text, consciously aware of the fact that it is the Lord who is calling us to do these. He is not asking us or calling us to do what is impossible. He knows what we can do and must do, so we come to them, knowing that we can do them, if we truly want to.

Sunday - Day 1. Mind Cleansing Preparation Exercise.

Consider

First, we are called as a Church to consider. Consider, not your good works. Consider, not how faithful you have been in the things of Church. Consider, not the amount of work you have been doing. Consider, not the suffering and pain you have endured. Consider this one thing, how far you have fallen. This is where it becomes personal to each of us, as you now consider how far you have fallen.

You are not wondering or asking our Lord whether or not you have fallen. No! You are asking Him to let you have the eyes, ears and mind, which allow you to realise how far you have fallen.