Lent Day 1 – Ash Wednesday Devotion – Wednesday, February 18, 2026
This Evening:
Ash Wednesday Worship
Tonight, Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 7:00pm
Tonight’s service includes Communion and The Imposition of Ashes
All are welcome.
Find a bulletin for this week’s service using the link below!
Tonight’s service will be live streamed on YouTube for Lord of Life LIVE! If you can’t join us in person, join us online!
I Want Jesus to Walk With Me
African American Spiritual & Hogan
I want Jesus to walk with me
I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
Lord I want Jesus
To walk with me
““For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.””
What does "today," "this day," "Ash Wednesday," mean to you? We know today begins our Lenten journey, yet, is today really any different from any other day? Is today only a little different, because worship will be offered, provided, available, shared, tonight? Do we trust today is truly different, life changing different, thanks to God's grace?
We have the next forty days to reflect on many thoughts and images, truths and grace, hope and salvation, thanks to God's simple powerful love for us in Jesus Christ. Why wait though? Life is precious. Each walk with Jesus, each day, each moment, each encounter, each simple powerful Word of God’s grace changes, fills, satisfies, saves us.
Our emphasis this Lenten season will walk us through "The Seven Last Words of Jesus" on the cross. These words, these seven phrases, are traditionally remembered in this way:
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!"
"Today you will be with me in paradise!"
"Woman, behold your son. Behold, your mother."
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
"I thirst."
"It is finished!"
"Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit!"
The seven words of Jesus are usually shared and reflected upon only on Good Friday. Why wait though?
These seven simple powerful words of God's grace bless us now and for all eternity. These seven simple powerful words open to us other simple powerful words of grace: "I want Jesus, to walk with me;" "Where your treasure is, your heart is."
May today be a new day for each of you, my friends. God has already spoken simple power to you: you are graced, you are saved, you are dust and to dust you shall return. Jesus is forever walking with you; as you return to the Lord with all your heart, may you treasure the One who forever treasures you. You are sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever!
Let us pray: Jesus, oh, how I want you to walk with me today like never before. By your Holy Spirit, may today, may this Ash Wednesday, be like no Ash Wednesday I have ever known. Reveal to me again that I am where your heart is, that I am your treasure, that you faithfully went to the cross and proclaimed those seven simple, powerful, renewing words of grace to save me today, this day, and for all eternity. In your name I pray, with all my heart. Amen.
