Isaiah 58:9-12

God promises that if we care for those in need

You’ll be like a well-watered garden,

a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

For this devotional we will be using Sundays—not part of Lent—to celebrate the what we do well for our faith. I encourage you to look at what you give away, what you do to support people in need. Look at your personal giving, and your congregation’s giving, and what we do as a nation. Today we might give thanks for the forty hour work week, for SNAP and WIC benefits, for the ways our church pantries and meals feed the community.

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Isaiah 58:6-7

What I’m interested in seeing you do is:

sharing your food with the hungry,

inviting the homeless poor into your homes,

putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,

being available to your own families.

You, that is the nation, are called to care for others.

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Joel 2:15-17

Call a public meeting.

Get everyone there. Consecrate the congregation.

We have to get together and see the poor, the oppressed, those that are lost.

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Joel 2:12-14

Change your life, not just your clothes.

Come back to God, your God.

It seems to require that life be really bad before we are willing to change.

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Joel 2:1-3

Things are bad. Really Bad.

"Before it arrives, the country is like the Garden of Eden.

When it leaves, it is Death Valley.

Nothing escapes unscathed."

The reality of death and setting goals to live fully.

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Meditation on Matthew 4:5-7. Do not test God, but trust God.

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Meditation on Matthew 4:1-4. Who is responsible for making sure everyone has food?

With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)

Try out this quick Lenten Meditation. Considering Poverty, Wealth, and our Christian lives this Lenten Season. With Elizabeth Mae Magill ElizabethMaeMagill.com

Based on the book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth (Upper Room Books 2026)