Paul W. Arndt

Lent 2026
We Walk With Jesus All the Way

Introduction

One of the hymns that frames the life of the Christian is I Walk in Danger All the Way. The first three stanzas begin this way:


I walk in danger all the way…

I pass through trials all the way ...

Death pursues me all the way ...


The first part of the hymn reminds us that all of the spiritual forces of the "unholy trinity" (the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh) relentlessly fight against us. The devil pursues us. In this world we suffer and bear the cross. And the number of our days are limited.


The good news of the last three stanzas reminds us that we don’t walk the way of this world alone.


I walk with angels …

I walk with Jesus ...

My walk is heavenward ... all the way


Those promises are true and hold fast every morning. Jesus is for us. He is with us, and nothing, not even death, can separate us from His love. (Romans 8)


Lent 2026 - Each Wednesday ...


Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 18th). This year I'd like to offer a few simple, yet powerful, spiritual practices to help you meditate on the person and work of Jesus. I chose the practices based on five criteria.


For each practice I asked ...


Is it useful? Will it help me make use of the person and work of Jesus? Can it help me fight against the "unholy trinity" of the devil, the world, and my own sinful flesh?


Is it doable? Can it be taught and learned in a "clear and simple way"? Is it a practice that I can easily start and do, without any frustration? Is it simple enough for a child to learn, and yet, profound enough for me to practice every day for the rest of my life?


Is it reliable? Does it consistently deliver the person, work, and gifts of the Triune God? Is it rooted in the Scriptures? Will the practice serve me for a lifetime, without fail?


Is it memorable? Can I learn it quickly and use it easily? Is it something that will last throughout the entirety of my life and not just a passing season?


Is it repeatable? Is this practice something that I can keep coming back to? Can I make use of it day after day, week after week, year after year?


With those criteria in mind, I choose the following six spiritual practices.


  • Practice 1: The Sign of the Cross and the Trinitarian Invocation
  • Practice 2: Praying Luther’s Evening and Morning Prayer
  • Practice 3: Comforting the Conscience with Confession and Absolution
  • Practice 4: Memorization and Meditation on the Word of God
  • Practice 5: Loving God and Serving the Neighbor Through Our Vocations
  • Practice 6: A Doxology of Praise and the Reception of the Lord’s Blessing

Each Wednesday during the forty days of the penitential season I'll introduce you to a spiritual practice. I'll give you some guidance, a few resources, and a couple of words of encouragement for the week ahead. We'll start small and slow ... baby steps.


You can learn more about this spiritual formation process at ... TheReceptiveLife.com.


I pray that this simple, and yet profound, set of practices will help you learn how to make use of the person and work of Jesus Christ so that you can ...


  • fight against the "unholy trinity" - the devil, the world, and the sinful flesh
  • defend yourself with all of the promises of Jesus
  • and receive all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give

We commend all into the Lord's hands. Come what may, we do belong to Jesus.

Practice 1: The Sign of the Cross and the Trinitarian Invocation
In the morning, when you rise, AND in the evening, when you go to bed,
you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:

In the name of the Father and of the Son 
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* * *
Then meditate on the following ...

Christ FOR me (Romans 8) 
Christ WITH me (Matt. 28:20)
Christ IN and THROUGH me (Gal. 2:20-21)

Marked by the cross and the Trinitarian invocation meditate on ...

What the Triune God has done in your baptism!
Who you and whose you are in Christ Jesus!
That there is "no other name" by which we are saved! (Acts 4:12; 10:43)

Meditate on the following from the Small Catechism …

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death,

that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

-Meaning of Second Article of Apostle's Creed

Small Catechism, Concordia Triglotta


Make use of the following sayings throughout the week.
See them as daggers that you can use against the unholy trinity ...

Lord have mercy on me, the sinner.
Jesus is Lord!

I belong to Christ!

Daily Practice - Station 1 Videos

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