Archives by: Gary Hoag

Feast Day 4 of 7 | Fourth Sunday of Lent

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6:16-19

Today’s Scripture reports the seven things the Lord detests. We observe Lent, in part, to cleans us from these sins. But the work needs to happen on the inside, not the outside.

In The Seven Storey Mountain. Thomas Merton parallels his spiritual journey with the ascent of a seven-tiered mountain representing the purification of the seven deadly sins. Merton, writes. “It can be said, as a general rule, that the greatest saints are seldom the ones whose piety is most evident in their expression when they are kneeling at prayer, and the holiest men in a monastery are almost never the ones who get that exalted look, on feast days, in the choir.”

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) in The Seven Storey Mountain (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1948), p. 440.

As you feast today, give thanks for the work of Christ which sets you free from slavery to these sins. And be sure to direct your piety inwardly. While Lent is made up of a series of external observances – giving, prayer, and fasting – they are designed to transform us from the inside out. They wash away the sins that so easily beset us.

Lord, rid my life of the seven deadly sins, inside and out. Amen.

The work of Christ on the cross frees us from the penalty and the power of sin. Give thanks for that as you feast and practice piety for Him alone.

Fasting Day 22 of 40 | Fourth Saturday of Lent

“During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace forty years.” Judges 8:28b

As I write this, I am 58 years old. When Brother Lawrence was that age he wrote of a divine favor that he experienced at 18. It shaped his life for the next 40 years. I hope this reading does the same for you.

“The first time I saw Brother Lawrence was upon the 3rd of August 1666. He told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his conversion at the age of eighteen. That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time, the leaves would be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the providence and power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had increased in above forty years that he had lived since.”

Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God, excerpt from the First Conversation.

For those of us reading this during Lent in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is upon us. We see new buds form and the life appear on trees. We see this all over the world. Next time you notice it, consider the providence and power of God at work in them. Ask God to have that same providence and power at work in you to enable you to live, give, serve, and love generously like a fruitful tree.

God, thank you for your love, providence, and power. Amen.

Take a walk today and look for favors, signs of God’s love, providence, and power. Tell someone what you saw.

Fasting Day 21 of 40 | Friday Thursday of Lent

“For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’” Psalm 95:10

As we practice the discipline of prayer during Lent, we do well to read the Psalms. We find God’s heart there. Today’s Scripture reveals how much He wants us to stay on track and know His ways.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes this about the Psalms and prayer. “The Psalter is the great school of prayer. Here we learn, first, what prayer means. It means praying according to the Word of God, on the basis of promises… Second, we learn from the prayer of the psalms what we should pray… Third, the psalms teach us to pray as a fellowship. The Body of Christ is praying, and as an individual one acknowledges that his prayer is only a fragment of the whole prayer of the Church. He learns to pray the prayer of the Body of Christ. And that lifts him above his personal concerns and allows him to pray selflessly… The more deeply we grow into the psalms and the more often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich will our prayer become.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) in Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1954) 47-50.

When we pray the Psalms, we align our ways with God’s ways and our hearts with God’s heart. We welcome His care and join the fellowship of believers praying around the world. This lifts us beyond our personal concerns and positions us for generous living rooted in His promises.

God, teach me to pray by praying the Psalms. Amen.

Take time to read at least one Psalm today as a prayer. Journal about your experience. Tell at least one other person how it made you feel.

Fasting Day 20 of 40 | Fourth Thursday of Lent

“But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God, I did not act like that.” Nehemiah 5:15

In his effort to rebuild the walls and God’s people, Nehemiah had to set a different example than the gluttonous governors before him. For many of us, this passage rings relevant. We serve in places where people in authority abuse their power and privilege. What do we do?

In his Pastoral Rule, Gregory offers this answer. “The gluttonous are to be admonished, that in giving themselves to the enjoyment of dainties, they pierce not themselves through with the sword of lechery; and that they perceive how great loquacity, how great levity of mind, lie in wait for them through eating, lest while they softly serve the belly they become cruelly bound in the nooses of vice.”

Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) in The Book of Pastoral Rule (Popular Patristics Series; New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2007) p. 119.

We fast in Lent because our human tendency leans toward serving our belly. Pastors and people in authority or oversight do well to remind others that when we serve our belly we become “cruelly bound in the nooses of vice.” Our desires control and destroy us. It took place in the days of Nehemiah and still happens today. Don’t let it happen to you.

God, teach me to act different like Nehemiah. Amen.

Fasting tells our body that we will not be ruled by our desires. It builds discipline in us. Sit with the Holy Spirit. What areas of your life needs this discipline. Do games, social media, TV, or other desires control you?

Fasting Day 19 of 40 | Fourth Wednesday of Lent

“In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.” 2 Kings 12:1

The biblical record of Joash tells us that good mentors spoke into his life, that he repaired God’s house, and that he reigned 40 years.

If we also find ourselves surrounded by disrepair, we do well to listen to Gregory of Nazianzus, who served as Archbishop of Constantinople and Doctor of the Church. “The next thing is to look to ourselves and polish our theological self to beauty like a statue. The first point to be considered is: – What is this great rivalry of speech and endless talking? What is this new disease of insatiability? Why have we tied our hands and armed our tongues? We do not praise either hospitality, or brotherly love, or conjugal affection, or virginity; nor do we admire liberality to the poor, or the chanting of Psalms, or nightlong vigils, or tears. We do not subdue the body by fasting or go forth to God by prayer; nor do we subject the worse to the better – I mean the dust to the spirit – as they would do who form a just judgment of our composite nature. We do not make our life a preparation for death, nor do we make ourselves masters of our passions.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) in Oration 27.7, trans. by Stephen Reynolds (Estate of Stephen Reynolds, 2011), p. 7.

We do Lent to polish ourselves and subdue our flesh. This positions us to rebuild God’s house where we serve and to write a new future!

God, polish me to rebuild Your house where I serve. Amen.

Journal on this: What do you want God to polish in your life? How is God’s house broken down where you serve?

Write a prayer of surrender to God. If God can use Joash, He might want to work through you.

Fasting Day 18 of 40 | Third Tuesday of Lent

“For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.” 1 Samuel 17:16

In the story of David and Goliath, we learn that Goliath taunted the troops of the Israelites morning and evening for forty days. This left them all gripped with fear. But when David visited the front lines and heard the giant, he responded in faith, this led to his historic victory.

Let’s think about fear today. It keeps us from doing the things God wants us to do. It shows up when we think about giving during Lent. In his classic work, Money Thoughts for God’s Stewards, Andrew Murray writes, “The world asks, what does a man own? Christ, how does he use it? The world thinks more about the money getting; Christ about the money giving. And when a man gives, the world still asks, what does he give? Christ asks, how does he give? The world looks at the money and its amount, Christ at the man and his motive.”

Andrew Murray (1828-1917) in Money Thoughts for God’s Stewards (Holistence Publications, 2024), p. 3.

Like the gibes of Goliath, the world bombards us daily during Lent with such messages about money. Don’t listen. Choose to give generously by faith and watch God show up and fear topple like the enemy.

God, teach me to live without fear and give by faith. Amen.

Talk to someone close to you about what you are learning about giving by faith as you go through Lent. Why do this? These talks can bring about change that lasts a lifetime.

The enemy tries to keep you isolated to grip you with fear and hinder your growth. Don’t let it happen to you. Respond courageously like David did.

Need inspiration? Money Thoughts for God’s Stewards by Andrew Murray freely here.

Fasting Day 17 of 40 | Third Monday of Lent

“The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. So, he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.” 1 Kings 19:7-8

After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel he fled into the wilderness. There he was told to eat twice to get strength from food and then have solitude. Henri Nouwen speaks to this topic.

“In solitude we can slowly unmask the illusion of our possessiveness and discover in the center of our own self that we are not what we can conquer, but what is given to us… It is in this solitude that we discover that being is more important than having, and that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended but a gift to be shared… In solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in Show Me The Way: Reading for Each Day of Lent (New York: Crossroad, 1992) p. 53.

Imagine the victory of Elijah. He could define himself by defeating 450 false prophets. No! His value was far greater than that. And so is yours! Think about how much Jesus loves you to journey to the cross for you.

Jesus, thank you for your matchless love for me. Amen.

You feasted yesterday as the journey is long. Sit in solitude today for at least seven minutes.

This is an aspect part of prayer for you to learn in Lent.

What does He say to you about your worth? Your usefulness? Just listen. Journal what you hear so you do not forget.

And a “Happy Birthday” shout out to my son, Samuel David Hoag. He turns 30 today!

For the kingdom of God you are unspeakably useful. Your victories are too many to count. But your worth to Jesus and to your family far outweigh all that. We love you.

Happy Birthday Sam! I see how you live your life as a gift to be shared. Stay the course.

Feast Day 3 of 7 | Third Sunday of Lent

“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.” Deuteronomy 15:1

In the Old Testament Law, the command to cancel debts every seven years linked to helping the people reset their lives and not oppress each other. This is justice in practice. God supplies for all. Sometimes people get help from others in crisis. Sometimes people help others.

In the world, it goes the opposite. People hoard for themselves and aim to get rich. They idolize comfort and self-preservation. Sadly, most Christians live this way. God calls it injustice as all they have belongs to Him and came to them to accomplish His agenda, not theirs.

One of my favorite monks, Bernard of Clairvaux, writes. “O wretched slaves of Mammon, you cannot glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ while you trust in treasures laid up on earth: you cannot taste and see how gracious the Lord is, while you are hungering for gold.”

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) in On Loving God, excerpt from Chapter 4, “Of those who find comfort in the recollection of God or are fittest for His love.”

What are you hungering for today?

What are you hungering for? It’s a feast day so that means I am hungering for a bison burger.

Seriously, you cannot say the cross of Christ if you have treasures stored up on earth. Why? You cannot fathom the generosity of God if you act as though riches will sustain you. Why, you have not experienced His matchless care firsthand. Jesus can see your finances right now. What would He say to you? Hear and obey.

Jesus, help me let go of earthly riches so I can hold onto You. Amen.

It’s a feast day! Celebrate the cross by making a gift from your assets.

Want to stretch yourself? Set a lifetime goal to storing up a certain amount of treasure in heaven. Keep track. See what happens.

Fasting Day 16 of 40 | Third Saturday of Lent

“Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” Exodus 24:18

Though Moses could retreat to the mountain for forty days and nights, how should the rest of us observe fasting when we receive guests?

Benedict of Nursia answers this question in his rule. “Let the divine law be read in the presence of a guest, that he may be edified; and after this let all courtesy be shown him. For hospitality’s sake the superior may break his fast, unless by chance it be a fast-day of obligation, the which cannot be violated: but let the brethren continue to observe their custom of fasting. Let the abbot serve water for the guests’ hands; and let both the abbot and also the whole community wash all the guests’ feet: and the washing finished let them say this versicle: “We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.” And above all let care be scrupulously shown in receiving the poor and strangers; for in them specially is Christ received.”

Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-547) in The Rule of St. Benedict, trans. by W.K. Lowther Clarke (London: SPCK, 1931), p. 24.

Notice the focus. Break the fast when necessary to show hospitality guests, the poor, and strangers. Read the Word of God, feed them, and wash their feet. That means give them your best and not leftovers. Serve and receive guests as if you are receiving Christ into your home.

Jesus, help me welcome all guests as if I am welcoming You. Amen.

How do you welcome guests, the poor, and strangers into your life? Your schedule? Your home? Talk to those with whom you live about how you might generously welcome guests as if you are welcoming Christ.

Fasting Day 15 of 40 | Third Friday of Lent

“Where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” Luke 4:2

In his Homily of Salvation, Thomas Cranmer writes. “For even the devils know and believe that Christ was born of a virgin; that He fasted forty days and forty nights without meat and drink; that He wrought all kind of miracles, declaring Himself very God: they believe also that Christ for our sakes suffered most painful death, to redeem us from eternal death, and that He rose again from death the third day: they believe that He ascended into heaven, and that He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and at the last end of this world shall come again, and judge both the quick and the dead. These articles of our faith the devils believe, and so they believe all things that be written in the New and Old Testaments to be true: and yet for all this faith they be but devils, remaining still in their damnable estate, lacking the very true Christian faith. For the right and true Christian faith is, not only to believe that holy Scriptures and all the foresaid articles of our faith are true, but also to have a sure trust and confidence in God’s merciful promises, to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ: whereof doth follow a loving heart to obey his commandments.”

Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) in his Homily of Salvation, in Miscellaneous Writings and Letters of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, ed. by John Edmund Cox (Cambridge: University Press, 1846), p. 133.

In Lent we take hold of “true Christian faith.” It calls us to obey. For years, I did not obey Jesus related to many things. But fasting, prayer, and giving teach me to obey. They show me that only obedience leads to life. I figure it out only as I live it out. May the same be true for you.

Jesus, forgive me for believing while failing to obey You. Amen.

Do you believe but fail to obey in any ways? Journal with the Holy Spirit.

For example, related to money, I largely ignored the teachings of Jesus for years. I stored up treasures in the wrong place, and in so doing, I missed out on the life He desired for me.

Only through giving did I discover my role and take hold of life. But the giving must come from a heart of love.

As we find ourselves in the heart of Lent, this post by Cranmer aims to get our attention. It aims to make sure the disciplines produce in us a loving heart to obey his commandments.

Pray with me for this, for everyone reading this to develop a loving heart to obey His commandments.