Daily Reflection: 3rd Day of Lent

Today’s readings are a little on the angry side, so I’ll forgo reflecting on them and I’ll instead share a song that I think is a very good one for the Lenten season. It’s “Make Me Holy” by Aaron Thompson.

The first verse talks of preparation and renewal…

Prepare my mind, prepare my soul.
Prepare my heart and make me whole,
Prepare me for the awesomeness of You.
Renew in me a spirit strong.
Remind me that it’s sin that’s wrong
Create in me complete desire for You!

The second is about being so consumed by God that it destroys our pride and hate and everything that separates us from each other and from the love of God…

Consume my mind, consume my soul.
Consume my heart and make me whole.
Consume me with the awesomeness of You.
Destroy the pride, destroy the hate.
Destroy the things that separate,
And keep me from returning back to You.

The final verse (which we sometimes jokingly refer to as the Trading Spaces verse) is about restoration. I actually really appreciate the words he uses in this verse - redecorating and rebuilding a house is a wonderful metaphor for what God does to our hearts when we let Him in…

Restore my mind, restore my soul.
Restore my heart and make me whole.
Restore me with the awesomeness of You.
Redecorate me from within.
Refurnish me with sacredness,
Rebuild me with a yearning love for You.

And finally, the chorus which simply asks God to make us holy, just like Him…

Make me Holy, Lord.
Make me Holy, Lord.
Make me Holy, Lord, like you.

This song made me think of Romans 8:38-39 where Paul writes…

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.

Nothing can separate from the love of God. Nothing except our own refusal to accept His love. And even then, He will still love us. No matter what. Even if we sin. Unconditional love.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us unconditionally, even when we make mistakes. Even when we reject your love. Even when turn away from you. No matter what we do, you still love us. Help us to love others as you love us. Help us to let your love consume our hearts so fully that we destroy everything that separates us from your love. Renew us, rebuild us, restore our hearts.

In the name of Jesus the Christ,
Amen.