Friday 12 March

Today is Friday the 12 March in the third week of Lent.

Luke Parker sings, ‘Your Love’.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Hosea.

Hosea 14:2-3

Take words with you
   and return to the Lord;
say to him,
   ‘Take away all guilt;
accept that which is good,
   and we will offer
   the fruit of our lips. 
Assyria shall not save us;
   we will not ride upon horses;
we will say no more, “Our God”,
   to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.’   

Today, we hear the voice of Hosea, instructing God’s people to return to the Lord. ‘Take away all guilt, accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.’ Spend time with these words now, using them as your prayer today:  

Lord, take away all my guilt….  

Accept that within me that is good…  

I offer to you Lord, the fruit of my lips…  

Now, as you hear the reading from Hosea continue, listen to God’s promises for those who return to him. Which words most resonate with you?

Hosea 14:4-7

I will heal their disloyalty;
   I will love them freely,
   for my anger has turned from them. 
I will be like the dew to Israel;
   he shall blossom like the lily,
   he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon. 
His shoots shall spread out;
   his beauty shall be like the olive tree,
   and his fragrance like that of Lebanon. 
They shall again live beneath my shadow,
   they shall flourish as a garden;
they shall blossom like the vine,
   their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 

For the last minute, remain with these words and let yourself be refreshed by them. Imagine that you yourself are flourishing like a garden or blossoming as a vine as you also live beneath God’s shadow.

You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.