Lenten Devotional for Friday, March 1

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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Friday, March 1
Do you believe that God hears your prayers?

When Alexander the Great died, his generals discovered that they had marched off their maps. They had no idea where they were. Their leader knew where he was going and how to get there, but they didn't. They were lost, with no idea what to do.

Do you sometimes feel that way with God? Shakespeare spoke for us all, "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; words without thoughts never to heaven go." Does it sometimes seem that your words ascend no further than the ceiling, that God has turned a deaf ear to your prayers?

He has not. Your Father hears your every prayer, whether you have understood his answers yet or not. As we pray for awakening in our nation, be encouraged by God's response to Solomon's prayer of dedication:

When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices." (2 Chronicles 7:11-12)

Solomon was wise, to be sure, but he was still a fallen human. God heard his prayer, not because Solomon is more deserving than us, but because our Lord is gracious. As you pray for awakening, know that your Lord listens to your every cry and will answer in his perfect will?

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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.