Scripture Reading
Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Reflection
Lent was originally the season of preparation for baptism at the Easter Vigil, and it still calls all Christians back to their baptismal identity. To be baptized is to have been buried with Christ and raised into new life — not metaphorically but really. Repentance during Lent is not self-improvement; it is remembering and re-inhabiting the person we already became at the font.
Prayer for Today
Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You with my whole being that I was baptised into the body of Christ when I was born into the family of God. Thank You for the wonderful opportunity to declare my new-found faith in Christ and my new life in Him, by going down into the waters of baptism as an outward sign of death, and coming up out of the waters as an outward sign of the inward change that took place in me at my rebirth.
I pray that as I prepare my heart to be baptised, that my baptism may be a true outward declaration to the world of my inwards change of heart and status in Christ, Who lifted me out of the miry clay and has seated me together with Christ in heavenly places.
Lord, may my water baptism truly demonstrate to the world the beautiful spiritual baptism that took place the moment I first believed, when I trusted Christ as Saviour and was born again by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that going down into the baptismal waters may demonstrate to all that I have been crucified in Christ and died to the old life with Him on the cross. And may this water baptism demonstrate to all concerned that I have risen-up into newness of life in Christ Jesus my Lord.
Praise You Holy name! In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
I pray that as I prepare my heart to be baptised, that my baptism may be a true outward declaration to the world of my inwards change of heart and status in Christ, Who lifted me out of the miry clay and has seated me together with Christ in heavenly places.
Lord, may my water baptism truly demonstrate to the world the beautiful spiritual baptism that took place the moment I first believed, when I trusted Christ as Saviour and was born again by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that going down into the baptismal waters may demonstrate to all that I have been crucified in Christ and died to the old life with Him on the cross. And may this water baptism demonstrate to all concerned that I have risen-up into newness of life in Christ Jesus my Lord.
Praise You Holy name! In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
Amen.