The Presbyterian Outlook 2026 Lenten Devotional: Discipleship in a Divided Age: A Lenten Journey through Matthew’s Gospel, written by Teri McDowell Ott.
Download the Lenten Devotional 2026._fullbook.
The devotional uses the Gospel of Matthew, which is described as contemporary because its original audience sought a faithful path in a turbulent, confusing time marked by high tensions, deep-rooted beliefs, and painful divisions. The Gospel proclaims a kingdom based on humility, compassion, and courage, inviting readers to confront divisions and seek God’s kingdom amid today’s fractures.
The structure includes daily reflections for seven weeks (44 days) based on passages from Matthew. Each daily entry features:
- A theme or statement, such as “God’s story breaks barriers”.
- A specific Matthew passage and a focus verse, such as Matthew 1:1-17 with a focus verse of Matthew 1:1.
- A Reflection section discussing the passage and its modern application.
- A Prayer section.
The devotional also includes Visio Divina (divine seeing) prayer practices on most Saturdays (Days 4, 11, 18, 25, 32, and 39). Visio divina invites participants to encounter God through art by contemplating an image, noticing what draws their attention, and considering how the Spirit invites them to see God’s story in a new way. The images are inspired by specific Matthew passages and created by artists such as The Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman and Hannah Garrity of A Sanctified Art, LLC.
Download the Lenten Devotional 2026._fullbook.
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