March 29 Lenten Meditation, Prayer and Scripture

TODAY’S PRAYER

Reaching the middle of the forty days’ Fast, with eager hearts let us go forward with Christ to the divine Passion; that, crucified with Him, we may be sharers in His Resurrection. (Monday Mattins of the Fourth Week of Lent).

DAILY MEMORY VERSE

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10) 

DAILY SCRIPTURAL READING (During Great Lent we are reading through Genesis and Proverbs)

Genesis 9:8-17 (Vespers, 1st reading)

8

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying:

9

“And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you,

10

and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.

11

Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12

And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

14

It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;

15

and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16

The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

17

And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Proverbs 12:8-22 (Vespers, 2nd reading)

8

A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

9

Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

10

A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.

12

The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit.

13

The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble.

14

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

16

A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame.

17

He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.

18

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.

19

The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.

21

No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Conclude your time with God by taking 5 minutes to sit quietly and pray the Jesus Prayer – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me the Sinner.”