Lenten Devotional for Thursday, February 28

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Lenten devotionals is entitled, "If My People..." and comes at a time that he believes "a Fifth Great Awakening is sweeping the nations, as more people are coming to Christ than ever before in Christian history. How can you join this great movement of God's Spirit?" He goes on to write, "in this year's Lenten devotional guide, we will walk each day with King Solomon as he leads his nation into God's presence and glory. We will commit ourselves to our Father's purpose and experience his transforming power. And we will claim his promise: 'If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). 'If My People ...' is more than a Lenten guide - it is God's invitation to intimacy with him. Please join us on this joyous journey."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2013 Lenten Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

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Thursday, February 28
Have you thanked God for his grace today?

If we were to shrink the world's population to a village of 100 people, it would contain the following: 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western hemisphere, and 8 Africans. Fifty-two would be female, 48 male. Six would possess 59% of the world's wealth. Eighty would live in substandard housing; 70 would be unable to read; 50 would suffer from malnutrition. Do you know how many would have a college education? One. How many would own a computer? One.

Did you deserve to live in the prosperity of your community and not the deprivation of North Korea? Did you deserve to hear the gospel, a privilege more than a third of the world has yet to experience? Did you deserve the physical abilities you enjoy?

All people who come to God seek him for one of two reasons: either so he will help us or because he already has. Either so he will love us, or because he already does. Solomon and his nation concluded their week of temple dedication with gratitude for all God had done for them:

So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him — a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel. (2 Chronicles 7:8-10)

God wants us to experience awakening no matter who we are. Have you thanked him for his grace today?

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Prior to founding the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, James C. Denison, Ph.D., was pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, a 10,000-member congregation in Dallas, Texas. He also pastored churches in Midland and Mansfield, Texas, and in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University. He is also the the author of seven books.