Lenten Devotions 2023

Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and ends the Saturday before Easter.

It is a time of preparation, of self-examination and of reflection as we journey toward the cross.

The devotions in this collection, designed so that you can use one for each week of Lent, focus on humility and what we learn about it from Jesus.

Jump to:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7

Week 1

Patience in action
By Amy Dunham

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

— 1 Peter 5:6-7, New International Version

Week 2

Learning to increase by decreasing
By Maurice Makoloo

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8, New International Version

Week 3

Never forget who you are
By Ed Anderson

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

— Colossians 3:12-13, New International Version

I was born and lived my early life in a small, rural town in northeast Arkansas. It was a town made up of mostly farmers, domestic workers and the unemployed (unemployment averaged 35%). My father, not wanting his sons to be farmers, pick cotton or work manual labor, decided to get a job with the United States government as a national park ranger. As we prepared to move from our small 900-square-foot home to a park in western Arkansas, my grandmother sat me down and said, “Never forget who you are.” As I grew older, this puzzled me. Why would my grandmother, who was full of wisdom and loved the Lord, give that advice to a very young boy? I could not find my shoes every day (and I only had two pairs — church and everyday), let alone know who I was. 

We arrived at our park and new home — a mobile home with poorly built wooden steps that sat so high off the ground we could crawl under it. There was no one anywhere near us. In the old house, my grandparents lived with us; my aunt and two cousins lived next door; and another cousin lived just down the street.

Week 4

The future of the planet
By Alberto Benítez

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
  I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

— Psalm 32:8, New International Version

Week 5

Achieving bold ends by humble means
By Ollie Babson

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

— Matthew 5:3-11, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Week 6

You must be humble to harmonize
By Marla Davidson

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

— Romans 12:16, New International Version

Week 7

Service predicated on humility
By Patrick Canagasingham

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

— Philippians 2:3-4, New International Version