February 18
Feb 18, 2026
READ: Joel 2:12-13
DEVOTION:
Every year, I feel like Easter sneaks up on me. I have the best laid plans to prepare my heart to celebrate, but with the busyness of being in ministry during that time, I miss pressing pause! Our prayer is that this devotional series can be your pause button each day for a few minutes as you quiet your heart before God.
Today’s passage is a great place to start. The context of Joel is a little unknown. BUT, we do know that Joel was an Old Testament prophet and scholar. He harkens back to OT concepts and imagery so often. These couple of verses are probably the most well known from the book. They come right after Joel declares that there will be a reckoning day for Israel. This is his attempt to help the people turn back to the Lord. That is what I see this season before Easter as: a chance to turn our hearts back to the Lord!
Too often, we have a small view of our sins. We know that we have been forgiven so we shoot up a quick, “sorry” prayer when/if we realize we have sinned. Those little "oops, sorry" moments are not quite the heart of true repentance. Joel’s words in 2:12-13 capture the heart of repentance. This is a turning away from sin, mourning over the actions/mindsets that led you there, and turning toward God.
On the other end of the spectrum, I believe sometimes we have a fear of bringing our “big sins” to God. We worry that He will meet us with condemnation and punishment. But that is not the case. The enemy wants us to believe that lie in order to keep us from relationship with our loving Father. He wants us to hide and feel shame. Neither of those things are from God. Joel reminds us here that when we turn to God with contrite and repentant hearts, He meets us with compassion and grace. What a relief!! He is not harsh, but rather runs to meet us and extends forgiveness and love!
What a joy it is to know that we are safe in the Father’s presence. May we long to be there every morning when we wake up and every evening as we lay down and every moment in between!
REFLECT:
Take a few moments to evaluate your heart. Ask God if there are any areas you are minimizing sin or hiding sin from Him. Repent of those sins by confessing them, seeking forgiveness, and asking God to keep you from them again. Sit quietly in His presence and thank Him!
PRAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being gracious and compassionate to me, a sinner. Forgive me for the sins that I have knowingly committed and unknowingly committed. Please help me to use these next 40 days to constantly turn my heart toward You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.