G.K. Chesterton: Ordinary Morals

Fasting Day 12 of 40 | Second Tuesday of Lent

“Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” 2 Kings 8:9

Hazael arrives with an extraordinary display – forty camel loads of wares – for Elisha, but he lacked ordinary morals. While the prophet proclaimed the king would recover, he also wept because he saw how Hazael would murder Ben-Hadad and do great harm to God’s people.

Some might appear generous and even participate in Lent but lack morals on the inside. In Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton speaks about this.

“Men (I felt) might fast forty days for the sake of hearing a blackbird sing. Men might go through fire to find a cowslip. Yet these lovers of beauty could not even keep sober for the blackbird. They would not go through common Christian marriage by way of recompense to the cowslip. Surely one might pay for extraordinary joy in ordinary morals.”

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) in Orthodoxy (Grand Rapids: CCEL), p. 37.

In plain terms, while people may do grand things to experience rare beauty, true appreciation of good things in life calls for ordinary morals. In this case, virtues like sobriety and commitment.

Lent is an inward journey that develops morals within us. Let us sweep extraordinary displays from our lives and welcome ordinary morals.

God, develop ordinary morals in me on this Lenten journey. Amen.

Is there any part of your life where what appears on the outside is not the same as on the inside? Ponder in solitude. Ask God to work there.

Fasting Day 11 of 40 | Second Monday of Lent

“Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4

God can do a lot in forty days. Jonah never dreamed that God could transform the hearts of the 120,000 people in the notoriously wicked capital of the Assyrian empire. These people could not “tell their right hand from their left” (Jonah 4:11). He underestimated God’s strength!

In Story of a Soul, Thérèse of Lisieux wrote about her forty days of fasting. “God granted me, last year, the consolation of observing the fast during Lent in all its rigor. Never had I felt so strong.”13

The paradox of the Christian journey Is that strength is found in surrender, in weakness, and in fasting. With thirty days of fasting left, I pray you observe it with rigor because the gain is unfathomable. When you fast, pray, and give with rigor during Lent, you get God in abundance. With Him comes discernment you never dreamed, peace amid peril, confidence to face any crisis, wisdom for your work, and help that multiplies hope. And that’s only the beginning.

Jonah ran the other way when God tapped him for his task. And God used a fish to get him to the right place. What does God want you to do? Don’t flee. Surrender Trust Him to give you incalculable strength.

God, exchange my surrender with your strength during Lent. Amen.

Journal on this: What does God want you to do that would only be possible with His strength at work in you?

Feast Day 2 of 7 | Second Sunday of Lent

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 2 Corinthians 11:24

Clement served as the first Bishop of Rome. Tertullian reports that the apostle Peter ordained him to service. Scholars call him the first of the Apostolic Fathers. Think of the Apostolic Fathers as the leading disciples of the first disciples. Today we learn about endurance from his first letter to the Corinthians, dated to 95 or 96. He was martyred in 99, by Emperor Trajan who had him tied to an anchor and thrown into the Black Sea.

“Through jealousy and strife Paul showed the way to the prize of endurance; seven times he was in bonds, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a herald both in the East and in the West, he gained the noble fame of his faith, he taught righteousness to all the world, and when he had reached the limits of the West he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world and was taken up into the Holy Place — the greatest example of endurance.”

Clement of Rome (c. 35-99) in 1 Clement 10:5-7.

Notice that forty and seven appear in Paul’s example of endurance. Forty equates to a time of testing. Imagine the pain of getting the skin ripped off your back for Jesus Christ. Seven implies perfection and links to the number of times he was in bonds. If Paul or Clement could endure trials and even martyrdom to make Jesus Christ known, what can you endure?

Jesus Christ, help me endure all things to make You known. Amen.

With no risk, there is no reward! As you celebrate knowing Christ today, ponder what risks God wants you to take to make Jesus Christ known.

After my recent trip to China, I had a zoom meeting last night with three influential workers, my Chinese translator from USA, and two administrators from Kairos University.

We will make educational pathways available to persecuted workers in hard places. The president of Kairos, a long time friend, messaged me during the meeting, “Are you willing to go there multiple times to get this going.”

I prayed a simple prayer of surrender to the Father and heard “yes” in reply. So I messaged, “Yes, I am willing.”

And I am excited for my wife, Jenni. God has whispered to her to return to Ukraine for the fourth time during the war to teach again at the seminary in Lviv in April. I praise God for her willingness to risk for Jesus Christ.

What risks does God want you to take to make Jesus Christ known? It does not have to appear as going to a dangerous place. What if you risked by giving so generously you will have to trust Him to sustain you?

Fasting Day 10 of 40 | Second Saturday of Lent

“The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” Deuteronomy 2:7

The foundation for our giving, prayer, and fasting in Lent is the Word of God. Polycarp, urged the church in Philippi to return to the Word in a time when many pursued vanity and false doctrines. I think He would say the same to us today as materialism and heresy abound.

In Letter to the Philippians, Polycarp of Smyrna writes. “Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning; “watching unto prayer,” and persevering in fasting; beseeching in our supplications the all-seeing God to “not lead us into temptation.” As the Lord has said: “The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69-155) in Letter to the Philippians 7:2, trans. By David Robert Palmer (2022 edition).

Why return to the Word, watch in prayer, and persevere in fasting? In this way, we lack nothing. In prayer and fasting we stand firm in what the Word teaches us. With these disciplines we strengthen our spirit.

Jesus, keep me from vanity and heresy as I return to the Word. Amen.

What is your discipline for Scripture reading? Did you know you can read most chapters in the Word of God in seven minutes. Try seven minutes of Scripture reading – one chapter – per day. Ask someone to join you. Hold each other accountable. Consider reading the same books and talking about what you learn and how the Word helps you.

Fasting Day 9 of 40 | Second Friday of Lent

“So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years. Judges 5:31

Many Scriptures report peace for forty years like this one proclaimed by Deborah. The timeframe points to a season of calm and blessing from God for His people. Want this in your life this Lent?

In Practical Mysticism, Evelyn Underhill points the way. “Eternity is with us, inviting our contemplation perpetually, but we are too frightened, lazy, and suspicious to respond: too arrogant to still our thought, and let divine sensation have its way. It needs industry and goodwill if we would make that transition: for the process involves a veritable spring cleaning of the soul, a turning-out and rearrangement of our mental furniture, a wide opening of closed windows, that the notes of the wild birds beyond our garden may come to us fully charged with wonder and freshness, and drown with their music the noise of the gramophone within. Those who do this, discover that they have lived in a stuffy world, whilst their inheritance was a world of morning-glory; where every titmouse is a celestial messenger, and every thrusting bud is charged with the full significance of life.”

Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) in Practical Mysticism (Minneapolis: Global Grey, 2025), p. 8.

Do you live in a stuffy world? Is it time for spring cleaning in your soul. Want more for your life? The path to peace starts with prayer.

Christ, show me what to sweep out of my soul this Lent. Amen.

Contemplate all Christ has done for you for seven minutes then journal.

Ane thanks for your prayers for me yesterday. The Paster’s conference went great. What a joy to speak on “Generosity in the Economy of God in 1 Timothy, Ephesians, and Your Church or Ministry.”

I’d describe them as responsive to take the biblical and practicl remarks to spread it to others.

So much of my teaching and training is worldwide. What a blessing to be treated as a prophet with honor in my own country, my own city.

Fasting Day 8 of 40 | Second Thursday of Lent

He then made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin to go on each of the ten stands. 1 Kings 7:38

Did you know 1 Kings 7:1 says it took 13 years for Solomon to build his palace? In Scripture, 13 implies drifting from God. And 40 appears with the number of baths he had. If we look at Solomon’s story, while God gave him wisdom and riches, the vanity led to a divided heart.

In The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis writes. “This is the greatest wisdom—to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) in The Imitation of Christ) excerpt from Chapter 1, “Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth (Grand Rapids, CCEL), p. 5.

To grow in giving this Lent, commune with God in prayer to ask what areas you might wrongly pursue vanity in your heart. Why do we drift toward vanity? It happens when we cherish the gifts of God over God.

God, save me from cherishing Your gifts over You. Amen.

Fasting, prayer, and giving are linked in Lent and in life. To seek God’s kingdom, how might God want you to have contempt of the world.

I am speaking at a pastor’s conference in Denver today on “Generosity in the Economy of God in 1 Timothy, Ephesians, and Your Church or Ministry.” I aim to equip them to abandon the economy of this world thinking which leads to a scarcity mindset, and instead to adopt economy of God thinking which gives us a sufficiency mindset.

I appreciate your prayers. Thanks.

Fasting Day 7 of 40 | Second Wednesday of Lent

At the end of the forty days and forty nights, the Lord gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant. Deuteronomy 9:11

God produces good things in us through fasting. Moses got the stone tablets after 40 days. Notice the blessings others have received.

In his First Homily on Fasting, Basil of Caesarea writes, “It was fasting and prayer which gave Samuel to Hannah. Fasting brought forth Samson. Fasting begets prophets, strengthens strong men. Fasting makes lawgivers wise, is the soul’s safeguard, the body’s trusty comrade, the armor of the champion, the training of the athlete.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) in his “First Homily on Fasting” (Grand Rapids: CCEL), p. 107.

Notice two things about fasting. First, it’s for everyone. Basil mentions a range of people to remind us that it’s for both women and men, for prophets, lawgivers, athletes, and everyone else. Second, it requires surrender. Each person goes without something good and trusts God for something better by surrendering everything to God.

So, what are you hoping for this Lent? Maybe you want a baby? Peace in a time of war? Wisdom in a season of transition? Discernment for the future? Or something else? What might God have in store for you? There’s only one way to find out. Persevere in fasting. And as we enter week two of Lent, strengthen your prayer life. Start by adding this prayer to your fasting: the Surrender Novena. Pray it 10 times a day.

Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything. Amen.

Journal about any thoughts or feelings you have when pray this prayer.

The door to a generous life in the kingdom is opened with fasting (setting aside our desires) and prayer (attuning to God and what He desires).

If you have adopted the practice of fasting and surrender in prayer, pause to pray for others just engaging these disciplines for the first time this Lent.

Pray with me that God shows up in power and works in their lives. Before they can grow in generosity, God must transform them into surrendered conduits.

Fasting Day 6 of 40 | First Tuesday of Lent

And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:12

Imagine it pouring for forty days and nights. Noah and his family must have wrestled with fear. As the saying goes, “When it rains it pours!” When difficulties mount, we can feel fearful. It’s common to feel this way during Lent. The evil one throws things at us. He wants us to fear.

In Dialogue, Catherine teaches us how conquer fear. “They remained barred in from fear, because the soul always fears until she arrives at true love. But when they had persevered in fasting and in humble and continual prayer, until they had received the abundance of the Holy Spirit, they lost their fear and followed and preached Christ crucified. So also, the soul, who wishes to arrive at this perfection, after she has risen from the guilt of mortal sin, recognizing it for what it is, begins to weep from fear of the penalty, whence she rises to the consideration of My mercy, in which contemplation, she finds her own pleasure and profit. This is an imperfect state, and I, in order to develop perfection in the soul, after the forty days, withdraw Myself from time to time.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialogue (Grand Rapids: CCEL), p. 93.

Growing in our walk with God links to arriving at true love. Though you face many difficulties, persevere in fasting and prayer. These disciplines will transform you as you do them. And you find true love.

God, deliver me from both difficulties and fear. I will persevere in fasting and prayer to experience your peace and true love. Amen.

Sit with God. Think of your heart as a home with rooms. Fast to empty the rooms. Pray for Spirit to fill each one. Fear goes. True love grows.

Fasting Day 5 of 40 | First Monday of Lent

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:2

What do you observe so far in Lent? The question relates to inclinations you may notice that you may need to renounce as Meister Eckhart notes.

“Christ fasted for forty days. Follow him this way, by observing whatever you are most inclined to or ready for: concentrate on that and observe yourself closely. Often it is more necessary for you freely to renounce that, than if you were to give up all food.”

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–1328) in “How a Man Should Rest in Peace When Not Oppressed by Outward Distress Such as Christ and the Saints Often Endured; and How He Should Follow God” in The Complete Works of Meister Eckhart translated and edited by Maurice O’C Walshe (New York: Crossroad, 2009) 506.

Is there an inclination or sin that easily besets you that God wants to bring to your attention? If so, He wants you to surrender it to Him. Lent is about removing the things that clutter your connection to God.

Lean into your inclinations. These appear as your default settings. Perhaps you have a proclivity to reacting instead of responding? Maybe you feel a need to please those around you, rather than living only to please God? Or maybe you complain when you should be content?

Herein lies the task of Lent for us. Through fasting, prayer, and giving, we relearn how to live. We do this by renouncing deep-seated patterns.

Holy Spirit, help me see what I need to renounce this Lent. Amen.

By observing, we see how these habits control and define us. Renounce whatever the Spirit brings to your mind for your good and His glory

I also observe that today is my father’s birthday.

He’s 87. I thank God for how I have seen him walk humbly with an openness to relearn how to live from Jesus. Happy Birthday Dad. I love you. If the Lord wills, I will see you in May.

Feast Day 1 of 7 | First Sunday of Lent

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. Genesis 2:3

On this first feast day, we reflect on all God has done for us. Jan Van Ruysbroec guides us from The Spiritual Espousals. “When man with compassion and in pity for his own being looks upon himself, and on the good that God has done to him, and on his defects, then man’s heart must flow out to the mildness of God…This mild man also observes with compassion the bodily needs of all men: he serves them, he gives to them, he lends, he comforts each man according to his needs, according to his own ability and to discretion. By this mildness men are used to practice the seven works of mercy, the rich by their service and their possessions, the poor by good will and by just affection.”

Jan Van Ruysbroec (1293–1381) in The Spiritual Espousals (London: Faber and Faber, 1952) pp. 69-70.

God has been so mild and gentle toward us. This propels us during Lent to practice the seven works of mercy, a tradition through church history.

1. Feed the hungry: Providing food to those without.
2. Give drink to the thirsty: Offering water or drink.
3. Clothe the naked: Providing clothing to those in need.
4. Shelter the homeless: Welcoming strangers or travelers.
5. Visit the sick: Caring for those with illnesses.
6. Visit the imprisoned: Offering comfort to those in prison.
7. Bury the dead: Ensuring proper burial rites.

God, make me a mild person who practices all seven works. Amen.

Today is special. Break your fast to celebrate all God has done for you. Look at the seven. Identify areas to grow giving and service this Lent.