As a teenager and early adult, I marched in a drum and bugle corps. It was time to get serious when we went off to our early summer camp. That was our intensive prep time for tour and competitions. Morning to night, eight counts by eight counts we rehearsed our show on the field for a week. Every eight counts, we stopped and were to check our alignment as our instructor shouted, “Check yourself!” Most of us looked around and didn’t budge. This became apparent to our instructor, who then extended his instruction with, “Assume you’re wrong!” To that, more of us corrected ourselves, especially after some specific helps were given.
You may or may not be an observer of Lent, but typical practices might include special focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Some might say they practice those all the time, but just as we have times in our lives when we set certain goals to work on, I find the time before Easter a good time to “check myself.” It’s a time when I especially recall the Lutheran liturgy I grew up with—and only later realized it was Scripture.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
Sometimes we forge on through these busy Christian lives without stopping for honest reflection on our Christlikeness. We need to stop and “check ourselves”—perhaps even “assume we’re wrong” so that we can mend a relationship, do some work on a particular sin, and come back in alignment with Christ. As we approach Easter and especially the Passion, maybe Psalm 51:10-12 can be a prayer for reflection and renewal while remembering what Jesus went through for us so that we may experience everlasting life.
Submitted by Rev. Melody d. Walden
Prayer Precious Lord, we are so grateful for your sacrifice for us and mindful of the kind of life You desire for us. May we daily pattern our ways after Your ways. Renew the right spirit within us. Amen.