The 40 days of Lent are a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal. This period, leading up to Easter Sunday, mirrors Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, where He fasted, prayed, and resisted temptation. It is a time to slow down, attune to your emotions, and draw closer to God.
One powerful way to stay connected to God during this season is through daily devotionals. These short reflections help us center our thoughts and focus our hearts on Him. Devotionals guide us in prayer, offer Scripture for meditation, and provide encouragement for our spiritual journey.
This year’s Lent sermon series invites you to engage in the “King of Kings Lenten Devotional: Shaping Tomorrow.” These short devotionals, intended for evening meditation, are designed to set you up for a happy, healthy, and productive tomorrow.
What Is The “Shaping Tomorrow Devotional”?
The Shaping Tomorrow Devotional is a reflection you read before bed that prepares your heart and mind for the next day. Rather than just reviewing the past, it helps you step into tomorrow with faith, hope, and intention.
Imagine ending your day with God’s Word, surrendering your worries to Him, and waking up with a heart ready to embrace His mercies anew. This is what we hope you can achieve between now and Easter.
Lamentations 3:22-23
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Shaping Tomorrow: 5 Examples of Our Lent Devotionals
1. Rise and Shine
Some days, the world feels full of God’s wonders and miracles. On other days, getting out of bed barely feels worth the effort.
We all experience challenges and difficult periods, but a mindset of gratitude and praise can mean the difference between awe and despair. How can you begin the day with a positive mindset? Start the night before.
Shaping Tomorrow: Ask for God’s guidance to stop, see, and hear the glory of each day tomorrow and every day.
Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2. Byte Sized vs. Bite Sized
What’s the first thing you reach for in the morning? For many of us, it’s our phones. We check the news and social media or play an online game to wake up.
However, think about what you’re consuming early on and throughout the day. Does your phone give you life or take life from you? Is it something that can truly satisfy you, or is it something that keeps you on the line for more?
Be mindful of the content that you’re consuming throughout the day tomorrow. Avoid those things that tend to trip you up.
Shaping Tomorrow: Seek insights from a higher power that loves and nourishes, not a device designed to hold your attention and sell a false reality.
James 1:5
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
3. Eat a Frog
The phrase “Eat the Frog,” attributed to Mark Twain, comes from the expression, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”
This metaphor suggests that it’s best to do the most challenging or unpleasant thing first thing in the morning so that the rest of the day is easier.
Shaping Tomorrow: Imagine the biggest challenge facing you tomorrow and how you will overcome it. Give your future morning self a pep talk so that you wake up ready to take action.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
4. Write a “To Don’t” List
Far too often, life’s distractions keep us from our true calling. Our never-ending to-do lists don’t include time for emotional connection and spiritual growth.
Is there a habit or task you know isn’t serving you? What can be trimmed from your day to make room for more meaningful things?
Shaping Tomorrow: Write your task list for tomorrow and ask God where your time and energy should go. You may find you’re replacing something good with something better.
Psalm 143:8
“Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
5. Grieve
We rarely take enough time to grieve.
Our lives are filled with many types of loss, including regrets—regrets over words spoken, opportunities missed, and decisions made. Instead of letting these regrets slowly eat away at you, find a way to make peace with them.
Shaping Tomorrow: What would it mean to grieve that regret and offer it up to God? Ask yourself and God for forgiveness so you can start the day unburdened.
Psalm 30:5
“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
The Importance of Worship in Lent
One of the most important ways to grow spiritually during the Lenten season is by attending Sunday worship and our Mid-Week Lenten Services (Wednesdays at 6:15pm). Worship brings us together as a community of faith, strengthens us through God’s Word, and reminds us that we do not walk this journey alone.
Each Sunday at King of Kings, we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and the hope His resurrection brings. Please consider joining us for our traditional or contemporary services. Let’s use this season to refocus, renew, and rejoice in the promise of Easter.
Hebrews 10:25
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Please download the complete Lent Devotional: Shaping Tomorrow. We hope you will spend time each evening reviewing a section and preparing yourself for the best tomorrow possible.