Lent Devotional

My name is Kraig Loyd, and I have been back at Fellowship Dallas since mid-August 2025 as the Worship Leader. After a text and phone conversation with Thad Harris (a name that I had not heard before) I realized that God was about to do something beautifully difficult in my life and the life of my family. I vacillated between my own refusal to believe that the Lord would desire me to become the Worship Leader at Fellowship and whether I could meet the challenge. However, I believe there is a blessing in listening to the Lord's call, which lies in taking a step of faith, not knowing where your foot will fall. I am eager to continue walking with the Lord as my guide as He shows up every time one of my unsure steps lands on the path I currently walk.

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After that initial conversation with Thad, I was unsure, confused, honored, overwhelmed, and ultimately vulnerable. I knew what I thought I would do but I was not fully sure what God was trying to do. So, I contemplated, I thought, and finally, I prayed. At that moment, God showed me my first mistake. The sequence of how I addressed God was out of order.

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David starts Psalm 31, our passage for our devotional today, with his petition to God for protection. From asking to pleading, David is going to God in a vulnerable state; he approaches in a manner that shows his humanity and frailty. In the midst of the initial plea to God, David recalls how some do not cling to God for covering but seek other means of inadequate protection. Then, David shifts into a more personal tone where he identifies his inadequacies and lays himself bare before the Lord. The beauty in that pain that David expresses is his turn towards God's shelter from the storm. It is evident how David found peace in the moment of proclaiming God's goodness. The expression of gratitude in this Psalm is comfort to a battered body, hope for a weary soul, and shelter from human schemes or quarrelsome tongues. Once I realized that the process I mentioned earlier was out of order, I began to pray and seek God for guidance. It became clear to me what God was requiring of me. That clarity doesn't mean that I saw the outcome, but it does mean that I am sure that each step I take is aligned with God's will in my life. Triumphs or trials, I am sure that God is pleased with my personal Praise and Worship.

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In Jesus's final moment in his earthly body, as seen in Luke 23:46, He is vulnerable and overwhelmed, but also exemplifies courage and power as he shouts with a loud voice prior to His last breath. When we follow God, we should aim to do so with an unwavering focus. We should go into each situation with an open heart, prepared to receive from our Father on high. We should also present in a way that others can see the work that God has and is doing in our lives. David started with prayer to address his storms but ended with a joy that provides shelter from the storm. So, what did I learn? That before I rely on my human tendencies to prompt my actions and emotions, I should go to God in prayer. This is a practice that we should use as the filter for all of our triumphs and trials. So, as I pray for you, I ask that you pray for me, and together, let's watch God change things.