Your Nail: Daily Lenten Meditations

the meaning of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for you. Some people tie a string around their finger to remind them of something. This Lent we hope the “gimmick” of a nail will serve that purpose for you, a frequent reminder to meditate daily on the crucifixion of Christ and its meaning for you personally. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that you have available a real nail to use as the focus of your daily meditation. Like a string on your finger, let your nail remind you each day of the day’s message, a message which is summarized in the title of each day’s devotion. If you can carry just that title in your mind each day, meditation will have begun. All of these devotions are derived in one way or another from the theme passage of Colossians 2:13b-15: "He has forgiven you all your sins: Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over His own head on the Cross. And then, having disarmed all the powers ranged against us, He exposed them—shattered, empty, and defeated—in His final glorious triumphant act." Two additional Scripture readings are suggested with each devotion, so that the Word of God may further direct your meditating and your praying. No printed prayers are offered with these devotions, because we don’t know in what direction the Holy Spirit will lead your thoughts in your meditations. Do pray, however, in your own way with your own words, as the Spirit leads you. —Arden W. Mead, author