“But you, O Lord, your mercy-seat love is limitless, reaching higher than the highest heavens. Your great faithfulness is infinite, stretching over the whole earth. Your righteousness is unmovable, just like the mighty mountains. Your judgments are as full of wisdom as the oceans are full of water. Your tender care and kindness leave no one forgotten, not a man or even a mouse. O God, how extravagant is your cherishing love! All mankind can find a hiding place under the shadow of your wings. All may drink of the anointing from the abundance of your house. All may drink their fill from the rivers of Eden. The fountain of life flows from you to satisfy me. In your light of holiness we receive the light of revelation. Lord, keep pouring out your unfailing love on those who are near you. Release more of your blessings to those who are loyal to you. Don’t let these proud boasters trample me down; don’t let them push me around by the sheer strength of their wickedness.” -Psalm 36:5-11 [TPT]

A Time to Think… As you continue your pilgrimage through Holy Week, Monday is an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the humanity of Jesus. On this day, Jesus entered the temple, made a whip out of chords, flipped the tables of money changers, and drove them out of the sacred space. 

A Time to Act… On Monday of Holy Week, many Christians remember the story of Jesus entering the temple and being very angry at what he found there: people were buying and selling things; the temple looked like a market instead of a holy place of worship. The temple was a very special place to Jesus. For you, today, what does that mean? Are you busy with buying, working, rushing around to get Easter goodies? This day is one for us to sit, to think, and realize the buying and selling in the temple is just as inappropriate in what we do. Today we pray, we begin Holy Week recognizing its hardship for Jesus, yet it is also a wonderful gift not from buying or selling, but a gift from the heart of Jesus Christ.

A Time to Pray… Jesus, I set aside this Holy Week-this Holy Monday, to search for what needs to be surrendered. Examine my heart, test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything ugly in my life that is hindering my deep relationship with you. I can’t thank you enough for the brutal sacrifice that you made to allow me to be close to you. I don’t want anything to be inside my heart, mind, or actions that prohibit you from using me fully to share your truth and your love. In your holy name I ask, AMEN.