Return to the Lord with All Your Heart
Joel 2:12 – “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
As we step into this new month, we are reminded once again of the gracious call of God upon our lives. This month is especially significant because the holy season of Lent begins on 18th February with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a sacred journey of repentance, renewal, and deeper communion with Christ as we prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.
There is a well-known story about a traveller who lost his way in a thick forest. He wandered for hours, exhausted and frightened. Suddenly, he saw a small light in the distance. As he moved closer, he discovered it was a humble hut with a lamp burning inside. The owner of the hut welcomed him warmly and said, “You are safe now. You may have been lost, but you are not forgotten.” This story reminds us of God’s mercy. Many times, we lose our spiritual direction, but God never stops calling us back. Lent is that divine invitation—God lighting a lamp of grace, calling His children to return home.
In Joel 2:12, God speaks with compassion: “Even now, return to me with all your heart.” These words are powerful because they reveal the heart of God. He does not say, “Return only when you are worthy.” He does not say, “Return after you have fixed everything.” Instead, He says, “Even now.” Even in our weakness, even in our failures, even in our spiritual dryness, God’s mercy remains open. His arms are still extended.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this journey. The ashes remind us that life is fragile and temporary. We are reminded of the words: “Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Yet this is not meant to frighten us, but to humble us and awaken our hearts. Ashes are a symbol of repentance, surrender, and renewal. They remind us that our true hope is not in earthly strength but in the everlasting grace of Christ.
Lent is a season of reflection. It is a time when we examine our hearts and realign our lives with God’s will. Often, we become busy with the pressures of life—work, family responsibilities, financial burdens, and personal struggles. Slowly, prayer becomes shorter, Scripture becomes neglected, and spiritual hunger fades. But Lent calls us back. It calls us to pause and ask: Where is my heart? Where is my faith? Where is my devotion?
God desires not mere outward religion but an inward transformation. That is why Joel continues by saying, “Rend your heart and not your garments.” True repentance is not simply a ritual—it is a change of heart. God is not impressed by external appearances, but He is moved by a broken and humble spirit.
As we enter this Lenten season, we are invited to fast, pray, and seek the Lord. But Lent is not only about giving up food or habits. It is about giving up sin, pride, bitterness, and spiritual laziness. It is about letting go of distractions and making room for Christ. When we deny ourselves, we discover the joy of depending fully on God.
Jesus Himself walked this path. He fasted in the wilderness, endured temptation, and remained faithful to the Father. Lent reminds us that the Christian life is not a life of comfort, but a life of discipleship. Yet it is also a life of hope, because the cross is never the end—resurrection is coming.
As we begin this month and prepare for Ash Wednesday, let us respond to God’s call: “Return to me.” Let us return with sincere hearts, with humble repentance, and with renewed faith. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. This Lent, may we grow deeper in prayer, stronger in faith, and closer in our walk with Christ.
Come and participate in the Ash Wednesday Joint Service on the 18th of this month, as we and the Rivercourt Methodist Church Congregation gather together as usual. Let it be a meaningful Lenten season, where we surrender ourselves anew to the Lord and walk faithfully with Christ towards the cross and the resurrection hope. Amen!
Revd Prasad Vasanthakumar
Minister – LTCC