Week 1 of Lent: A Prayer of Repentance and Return

Scripture

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18, (CSB)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)

Reflection

Lent begins not with striving, but with returning. 

I’ll never forget the feeling of leaving Honduras. Our family had served for two and half years in that beautiful country and suddenly, it seemed, God shut the door. As the plane took off I cried. Returning home wasn’t joyous at that moment and honestly, I had so many questions, doubts, and insecurities. 

Up until that point the idea of returning home was a comforting feeling. If Psalm 90:1 is correct, and God is our home, then why is it sometimes hard to return to God? Returning needs us to be honest about two things. 

In many church circles, today is recognized as Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Lenten season. While this day is not formally observed in many Baptist churches, the heart behind it is deeply biblical and worth pausing to consider.

Ash Wednesday reminds us of our need for repentance and humility before God—that we are dependent on His grace and in constant need of renewal. Scripture teaches that repentance is not about outward symbols, but about an inward turning of the heart (Joel 2:12–13). Before we come to God in prayer, we come honestly, acknowledging where we have wandered and our need for His mercy.

If Lent or Ash Wednesday feels unfamiliar or even uncomfortable, let this simply be an invitation—not to adopt a tradition, but to embrace a posture. A posture of repentance, reflection, and returning to the Lord. As we begin this journey through the Psalms, we do so trusting that God welcomes sincere hearts and meets us with grace.

Before there are disciplines to keep or practices to adopt, Scripture invites us to come honestly before God. Not polished. Not prepared. 

The Psalms give us language for this kind of return—a coming back to God with hearts that are open and weary but also repentant. Take a moment to read our scripture focus again. 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18, (CSB)

Psalm 34 reminds us that God does not wait at a distance for us to fix ourselves. He draws near to the brokenhearted. He meets us where we are, not where we think we should be by now. Lent is not about proving our devotion, but about acknowledging our need.

Many of us enter this season carrying quiet burdens—fatigue we haven’t named, disappointments we’ve tucked away, or sins we’ve tried to outrun rather than confess. The Psalms teach us that nothing is too small, too heavy, or too messy to bring into God’s presence. Honest prayer is always welcome.

As you begin this Lenten journey, resist the urge to rush ahead. Let this first week be about turning your face back toward God, trusting that He is already near and ready to forgive. 

Scripture also reminds us of this steady promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV). 

Lent begins not with answers, but with attention—not with perfection, but with forgiveness and nearness.

So, as we move toward the cross, we are invited to hold our shame and guilt differently. Guilt names what is true—that something is broken and in need of grace. Shame, however, tells us to hide. 

Above all the gospel brings hope to this story. 

In Christ, our confession does not lead to condemnation, but to cleansing. Forgiveness is not earned through striving; it is received through trust. Lent gives us space to bring what weighs heavy into the light, remembering that Jesus bore our shame so we could walk in freedom, restored and forgiven.

Prayer

Gracious God, we turn our hearts back to You. Where guilt is real, meet us with truth; if shame lingers, then meet us with grace. Help us confess honestly, trust Your forgiveness fully, and walk in the freedom Christ has secured for us. Amen.

Reflective Question

What guilt or shame have you been carrying that God may be inviting you to bring into the light and entrust to His forgiveness this week?

As we step into Lent, we do not rush ahead. We pause. We name what has grown tired or distracted in us. And we trust that God’s mercy is already at work before we take the first faithful step. 

This reflection is part of the Psalms for the Lenten Journey series—a seven-week walk through Lent using the prayers and honesty of the Psalms. If you’d like to read the full series, you can begin at Week 1 and move through each week at your own pace.

Click here to read the other posts in this series.