14 Comments
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Dawn Bye's avatar

What a wonderful message for me, this first day of lent. Beautifully written! Thank you!

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Richella Parham's avatar

I’m so grateful to have read this on the first day of Lent. Thank you, Amanda. Your insights, your way with words, your manner of writing are gifts. May we all have the courage to follow Jesus on the narrow path of humility.

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Amanda Held Opelt's avatar

That is so kind...thank you for the encouragement.

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Jordan Sleed's avatar

Timely. Only in recent years have I seen myself more in Jonah's emotional allergy to God's mercy. My prayers seem to revolve around humility these days. Grateful for your writing!

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Potter's Inn's avatar

Beautiful. Thank you. Great writing!

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Chad Brooks's avatar

The back half of Jonah was the OT reading today and it hit so hard. I kept thinking through the idea of God "relenting" in 3:9-10. At first, it had me thinking about the idea of God changing His mind...but then I realized God is responding to confession and repentance. This response isn't as much a decision, but our pursuit of holiness brings us back into orbit with Him.

Thanks for sharing this. It was so great.

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Kayla Craig's avatar

Always finding myself grateful for your reflections. Keep writing.

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Dea's avatar

This is a great way to start Lent, and I will be coming back, and back again to this post. It feels true in a remarkably simple and yet deeply profound way. Thank you for writing this post, and for maintaining this "Provisions" substack. Your life must have many demands and obligations; please know that your work here is valuable and greatly appreciated.

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Charlie Lehardy's avatar

My pride has always stopped my ears from hearing the whispers of the Holy Spirit. And in these days of so much yelling, who can hear his whispering? Humility before God and each other was one of Jesus' most consistent teachings, and the basic posture we're called to adopt on this Ash Wednesday. Thank you for this excellent and timely and wise reminder of the Jonah-pride in me, and all of us.

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Amanda Held Opelt's avatar

This is a good word, thank you!

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

So good, Amanda, so good. Thank you for it.

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Amanda Held Opelt's avatar

Thank you Lore.

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Patricia Hunter's avatar

So good, Amanda. Thank you.

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Amanda Held Opelt's avatar

Thank you for reading!

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