What is Ash Wednesday? 

• Feast of penitence, repentance; public
• Begin approx 900 CE
• Moveable feast; 40 days, not including Sundays before Easter
• Penitential confession
• Those who repent are readmitted to the church
• Pay tithes
• Give up food, chocolate, alcohol, etc. fasting
• Is day of Ashes;  Ashes express mourning
• Leave on all day
• Use ashes as symbol sinfulness and to express sorrow for sin
• 40 days analogous to Jesus in desert; fast and pray, temptation
• Take stock of spiritual life, repent, humble, self examination
• Set spiritual goals
• Prayer and meditation
• Fat Tuesday comes on Tuesday before.  Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday.  It is a tradition to eat all the dairy and meat products give up for Lent.  Have a big party.  Make pancakes and celebrate

What does it mean to us today?

• A time of releasing what no longer works for us
• Of reassessing our lives
• Of restoring and reviving our consciousness
• A time to get closer to the teachings of Jesus
• A looking forward to raising our consciousness to the indwelling life within
• Of restoring the body and mind to their original state of purity

 

I release self-doubt

• I give no power to my inner critic.
• I know that with God I am strong.
• I have the ability to let go of insecurity as I surrender my small self and become one with my greater Spiritual Self.
• I accept me exactly as I am; perfect, whole and free.

I love myself unconditionally:  I am whole and perfect just as I am.

I release guilt

• I let go of shame and guilt and move forward in faith.
• I surrender all self-righteous thinking and any need to punish myself or someone else.
• I invite Spirit to move within me, healing my heart and soul.
• I am willing to do the inner work as I claim Divine order in every situation.

I establish self worth in my life now.

I release sadness

• I let go of anything that keeps me from my joy.
• God’s loving light fills my heart and mind now.
• I am lifted up as my heart is filled with God’s love for me.
• In all I do, I find contentment and fulfillment.

I accept joy in my life now.

I release illness

• Anything less than complete wholeness is powerless over me.
• I give thanks that God’s healing life force is flowing through me.
• I am restored to perfect wholeness. 
• Thank you, God for my perfect health. 
• I am renewed and restored.

I accept health and wholeness in my mind, my body and my life now.

I release confusion

• I let go of chaotic thoughts and actions.
• As I still my mind, Spirit provides Divine wisdom.
• I allow the light of God to illuminate my thinking and actions
• I begin to think clearly and focus on just this now moment
• I am focused and I make the right choices in every moment

I establish clarity in my mind and in my life.

I release limited thinking

• I give no power to the words, “I can’t.”
• Since my world is the out-picturing of my thinking, I change my limited thoughts to thoughts of possibilities.
• I focus on the good and my life becomes unlimited.
• I experience a freedom that brings prosperity from everywhere.

I establish new possibilities and abundance in my life now.

I release fear

• I give no power to thoughts of apprehension or worry.
• I face my fears with a strength rooted in my firm foundation of faith that acknowledges God as my only source.
• I look beyond the appearance of fear to the truth that I can overcome anything
• I am not alone.
• God is my strength.

I establish courage in my life now.  I am confident and strong.

I release blame

• I let go of thoughts of blame or condemnation for my self or others.
• I let go of my need to be right.
• I open my mind to understanding, strengthened by Divine wisdom
• I see others as children of God who have their own answers and unique way of doing things.
• I develop a relationship of compassion, cooperation and sharing.

I establish acceptance and understanding in my life now.

I release prejudice

• I let go of my need to judge others and myself.
• I meet others more than halfway, as I give them the benefit of the doubt.
• I see that every sentient being has sacred worth and I honor that worth.
• I connect with the life center of Spirit and restore harmony in all my relationships.

I establish tolerance in my life as I behold the Christ in all.

I release resentment

• Nothing anyone has done or said has the power to hurt me.
• I let go of any feeling that is less than loving.
• I recognize that the thoughts and feelings I am having are not based in Truth because they are not unconditionally loving.
• I release anger and frustration, knowing that if I hold on to it I hurt myself more than anyone else.
• Instead, I see myself and everyone as the Divine beings we are.

I forgive unconditionally and love myself and everyone fully.

I release failure

• I let go of past mistakes or regret, knowing that they are stepping-stones to greater good.
• I recognize that what may seem like a mistake today may be a pathway to some new understanding or guidance.
• I quickly learn whatever lesson there is for me and apply it to my life for deeper awareness of Spirit within me.
• I take time to connect with God in the silence and listen for Divine guidance.

I establish success in all areas of my life with grace and ease.

I release feelings of lack

• I surrender my need to believe in lack.
• I recognize that all good comes from God.  God is unlimited.
• There is no lack in any area of my life.
• As I think about abundance, my mind is synchronized with the flow of abundance, bringing it quickly into my life.
• I readily accept my good as it flows to me in exactly the right time, the right way and in the right amount.
• All my needs are met.  Thank you God.

I establish prosperity and abundance in my life now.

Prayer

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