Home > Lenten Devotional 2023

Friends,

It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Loved and Freed, a 2023 collection of Lenten devotions from the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). As we enter the ancient season of Lent, we are invited to walk with Jesus through His journey of sacrifice and triumph, from His baptism to His crucifixion and finally to His resurrection on Easter Sunday, where we find ultimate love and freedom.

Lent has been a time of spiritual renewal for Christians for centuries. It is a time to reflect on our faith, repent of our sins, and grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and service to others. This book of devotions offers daily reflections and prayers to guide you on this journey of spiritual transformation and death to self.

The theme of this book, Loved and Freed, is inspired by the opening verses of Revelation 1:5–6, which give us a beautiful picture of the incredible love and freedom we have through Jesus Christ. As we read through these devotions, may we be reminded of the love and freedom we have in Christ and be empowered to love and serve others in the same way.

This year’s devotional was written by sixteen members of the NALC staff for each day from Ash Wednesday to the Resurrection of Our Lord. The readings each day are based upon the daily lectionary provided in the NALC Devoted To Prayer daily prayer and reading guide, which is also an adapted version of the daily lectionary in the Lutheran Book of Worship. PDF copies of this devotional booklet are available for download from the NALC website for printing for individual use or distribution in congregations. For details on how to access the devotional electronically or to receive it as a daily email or text message, please visit thenalc.org/lent.

I encourage you to make the most of this Lenten season by setting aside time each day for reflection, prayer, and service. Allow yourself to be drawn closer to God through this season of sacrifice and renewal, death and life.

So, take a deep breath, open the pages, and allow yourself to embark on a journey with Jesus over the next forty-seven days, that you may experience the transformative power of His love and freedom in your life. May this season of Lent be a time of growth, renewal, and deeper intimacy with God as we prepare for His passion, death, resurrection, and beyond!

“…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5–6 NRSV).

With warmest wishes,

The Rev. Dcn. Andrew S. Ames Fuller, Editor
Director of Communications
North American Lutheran Church

Ways to access the devotional:

Daily Text Message & Email

  • Text: “ReadingTheWord” to 24251
  • If you wish to receive daily emails, you must first sign up by texting the message above, and then you must enter your email via the form on the automated signup confirmation link.

Listen to this year’s devotional on the North American Lutheran Church podcast: Apple, Google Play, Spotify or thenalc.org/media

Watch a video recording of the devotional daily: facebook.com/thenalc

Read this week’s devotions: