MonroeOHUMC

  Day 2 – Thursday, March 6, 2025 Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-12 Devotion: What does it mean to truly follow God? In Isaiah 58, the prophet challenges the people to move beyond empty religious rituals and instead live out their faith through acts of compassion and justice. God desires a faith that loosens the chains of injustice, feeds the hungry, and shelters those in need. It’s easy to get caught up in religious routines without allowing our hearts to be changed. But Isaiah reminds us that God’s healing work flows through us when we care for others. When we extend kindness and work for justice, not only do we help those around us, but our own healing begins as well. What might it look like for you to embody this kind of faith today? Small acts of love ripple outward in ways we may never fully see. Lent is an opportunity not just for personal reflection but for action that brings hope and wholeness to others. Daily Action Steps: Perform a simple act of kindness today...

  "What’s the Point of This Struggle?" Psalm 51:1-17; Isaiah 58:1-12 In the series "From Brokenness to Wholeness: A Journey of Healing and Hope" Tonight, we gather on Ash Wednesday, a day marked by ashes and reflection. It is a time to pause, to be honest with ourselves, and to face the reality of our brokenness. The ashes we will wear on our foreheads are a sign of both our mortality—"from dust you are and to dust you will return"—and the brokenness we carry inside. But if we're honest, we don't need ashes to remind us that life is full of struggles. Many of us walked in tonight already carrying burdens that feel too heavy. Maybe you are weighed down by regrets—things you wish you had done differently. Or perhaps you feel stuck in patterns you can't seem to break. Some of us carry wounds no one else can see, but they are real and they hurt. And in the middle of all that, we might wonder: What’s the point of this struggle? Does anything ...