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The Daily Devotional
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
The Truth in the Dust: We Are Beggars
“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” — Psalm 51:17
Introduction
Today marks the beginning of Lent, a season of forty days set aside for reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we cross a solemn threshold. We are invited to pause the noise of our daily lives and confront a reality we often try to ignore: our own fragility. Whether we receive the imposition of ashes on our foreheads or simply reflect on the day in quiet, the message is the same: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” But this reminder is not meant to drive us to despair; rather, as the Psalmist reminds us, it is meant to bring us to the place where true relationship with God begins—an honest, open heart that recognizes its need for grace.
Reflection
By a profound coincidence of the calendar, today, February 18, marks the death of the great reformer Martin Luther. In 1546, while traveling to his birth town of Eisleben to mediate a dispute, his health failed. As he lay dying, many watched closely, expecting a final test of his resolve. Instead of terror, he found peace, reciting scripture and committing his spirit to God. After he passed, a scrap of paper was found in his pocket with his final recorded thought, scribbled in a mix of German and Latin: “Wir sind Bettler. Hoc est verum.” Which translates to: “We are beggars. This is true.”
This confession—that we are beggars—is the perfect companion to the ashes of this holy day.
Consider the feeling of standing at a grocery store checkout. You have unloaded your cart with the essentials you need for the week. The cashier rings it all up and tells you the total. You reach for your wallet, only to find your pocket is empty. You pat your jacket, your pants, your bag—nothing. The panic rises. You have the need, but you do not have the currency. You cannot transact; you can only rely on mercy.
Spiritually, Ash Wednesday brings us to that counter. We often try to pay our way with God using the currency of our achievements, our reputation, or our “good behavior.” We want to prove we are worthy. But the ashes tell the truth: we are dust. And Luther tells the truth: we are beggars. We have empty pockets. We cannot buy God’s love or earn our own immortality.
This sounds discouraging until we realize that God is not looking for customers; He is looking for children. As long as we pretend to be rich in our own righteousness, our hands are too full to receive anything. It is only when we admit we are beggars—dusty, mortal, and spiritually poor—that we open our hands. In that moment of empty-handed honesty, God does not turn us away. He fills our hands with the currency of Christ’s love. The ashes are not a mark of shame, but a badge of truth that says, “I can’t do this on my own.” And God replies, “I know. I never asked you to. That is what I am here for.”
Application
As we enter the Lenten season, let us practice the discipline of "empty hands" rather than performing for applause.
The Prayer of Empty Hands: Once a day this week, sit quietly for two minutes. Physically open your hands on your lap, palms up. Acknowledge that you bring nothing to God but your needs, and silently invite Him to fill you with His presence.
Secret Charity: In the spirit of the Gospel reading for today, do one act of kindness or generosity that absolutely no one else knows about. Do not post it on social media or tell a friend. Let it be a secret between you, the "beggar," and the God who provides.
A Fast from Noise: Consider fasting not just from food, but from the constant input of media or background noise. Create a 15-minute window of silence in your day to simply "be" before God, without needing to accomplish a task.
Conclusion
Ash Wednesday creates a collision between our mortality and God’s eternity. We are reminded that life is short and that we are made of earth. Yet, in the same breath, we are reminded that the infinite God loves us. We are beggars, and this is true. But we are beggars who have found Bread. Now is the acceptable time to drop the pretense of self-sufficiency and accept the gift of grace.
Prayer
Merciful God, you formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed life into us. Today, we acknowledge that we are frail and often lose our way. We come to you with empty pockets and open hands, admitting that we cannot earn your favor. Thank you that you do not despise a humble heart. Wash us, renew us, and walk with us through this Lenten season. May we find our treasure not in what we can achieve, but in who You are. In the name of Jesus, who became poor so that we might become rich. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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