Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn 40-day journey of reflection, repentance, and renewal leading up to Easter. It’s a time when Christians remember their mortality (“from dust you came and to dust you shall return”) and turn their hearts back to God.

These 23 carefully chosen Bible verses offer encouragement, conviction, and comfort as we enter into this sacred season. Each verse reminds us of the beauty of humility, the call to repentance, and the hope we have in God’s mercy.

1. Dust and Mortality: Genesis 3:19

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

This verse is often spoken during the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. It’s a sobering reminder of our mortality and dependence on God. Our lives are brief, and this truth calls us to live with humility and urgency. In acknowledging our finite nature, we are invited to seek eternal life and purpose through Christ.

2. A Call to Return: Joel 2:12-13

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Ash Wednesday calls us to turn inward, to look at our hearts, and return to the Lord with sincerity. Joel reminds us that God desires inner transformation, not outward performance. His grace is abundant, and no matter how far we’ve strayed, He welcomes us back with compassion and mercy when we truly repent.

3. A Clean Heart: Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51 is a heartfelt confession from David after his sin with Bathsheba. This verse reflects the essence of Lent, a plea for inner cleansing and renewal. It reminds us that God is the only one who can truly purify our hearts. As we enter Lent, this becomes a personal prayer for transformation and spiritual focus.

4. God’s Mercy in Our Weakness: Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
This promise from Isaiah reassures us that no sin is beyond God’s power to forgive. Lent isn’t about wallowing in guilt, it’s about embracing the mercy of a God who wipes the slate clean. When we confess, God is faithful to cleanse us, making us new again, white as snow, through His grace.

5. Fasting That Pleases God: Isaiah 58:6

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
Isaiah reminds us that fasting isn’t just about abstaining from food, it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s heart for justice and mercy. Lent should move us toward compassion, service, and freedom for others. Ash Wednesday sets the tone for a fast that transforms not only us but also the world around us.

6. True Repentance: 2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
This verse outlines a divine pattern for repentance: humility, prayer, and turning from sin. It promises that God hears and responds when His people come before Him sincerely. As we begin Lent, this verse inspires us to not just feel sorrow, but to actively seek change and restoration through God’s healing power.

7. Treasure in Heaven: Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Jesus challenges us to examine what we truly value. Ash Wednesday reminds us that earthly life is fleeting, and eternal things matter most. Lent is a perfect time to reorder our priorities and detach from materialism, focusing instead on spiritual treasures that reflect a heart set on God’s kingdom.

8. The Reward of Secret Devotion: Matthew 6:16-18

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting… and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Jesus teaches that fasting is a private act of devotion, not a performance. Lent invites us into quiet disciplines, fasting, prayer, giving, done for God’s eyes alone. This verse encourages authenticity and inward focus, promising that God honors even the unseen efforts of the faithful.

9. Confession and Cleansing: 1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Ash Wednesday calls us to confession. This verse reassures us that God’s forgiveness is not only possible, it’s guaranteed for the truly repentant. There’s no need to fear condemnation when we approach God with honesty. He offers full pardon and the gift of purity through His faithfulness and justice.

10. God’s Compassion Never Fails: Lamentations 3:22-23

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lent begins with the somber tone of Ash Wednesday, but even in our sorrow and repentance, we cling to hope. God’s compassion is endless, and His faithfulness is unfailing. Every new day brings a fresh chance to draw near to Him. These verses remind us that grace is always within reach.

11. Humble Yourself Before God: James 4:10

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Ash Wednesday is a time for humility. This verse encourages us to lay down pride and acknowledge our need for God. Humbling ourselves doesn’t mean thinking less of who we are, it means recognizing who God is and our need for His grace. When we do that sincerely, God promises to lift us up in His strength, not our own. Lent is an invitation to come low before God and allow Him to raise us in His love.

12. The Joy of Forgiveness: Psalm 32:5

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
David’s transparency in this psalm shows the relief and joy that come from genuine confession. During Lent, we are encouraged to lay everything bare before God. We don’t have to carry guilt or hide our faults, God longs to forgive. Confession isn’t about punishment; it’s about restoration. Ash Wednesday sets the stage for that healing honesty with God.

13. A Heart That Pleases God: Psalm 51:17

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
This verse captures the true spirit of Ash Wednesday. What pleases God isn’t empty rituals or showy displays, it’s a humble, broken heart that sincerely turns toward Him. A contrite spirit draws the mercy of God like nothing else. Lent gives us the space to come before Him honestly, without pretense, knowing He will never turn away the genuinely repentant.

14. Turn from Sin: Ezekiel 18:30

“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”
Ezekiel’s words are bold and clear, repentance is urgent and personal. Lent is not about vague feelings of regret; it’s about realignment. God wants us to turn away from the behaviors that separate us from Him. This verse is a reminder that God holds each of us accountable, but also that He offers hope if we choose to turn back to Him.

15. The Promise of Renewal: Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Lent challenges us to break from the world’s values and seek inner renewal. Transformation begins in the mind, how we think, what we prioritize, what we dwell on. This verse encourages us to allow God to reshape us from the inside out. Ash Wednesday starts the journey of letting go of worldly distractions to embrace divine truth.

16. The Lord Heals the Broken: Psalm 147:3

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Lent can stir up sorrow, over sin, regrets, or painful memories. But this verse gives comfort: God doesn’t just expose our wounds, He heals them. As we bring our brokenness to Him during Lent, we’re not met with judgment but with healing hands. Ash Wednesday is a reminder that God sees every hurt and is always near to restore.

17. Righteousness Through Faith: Romans 3:23-24

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
These verses remind us that no one is exempt from the need for grace. We all fall short, but God doesn’t leave us there. Through Christ, we are justified and redeemed. Ash Wednesday underscores our universal need for forgiveness and points us toward the hope we have through Jesus’ redemptive work.

18. Seek the Lord: Isaiah 55:6-7

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts…”
Isaiah urges us to seek God now, not later. Ash Wednesday serves as a spiritual wake-up call. We’re reminded that time is precious and the invitation to turn to God is always open. But it requires us to let go of destructive ways and pursue a path of righteousness and peace found only in Him.

19. Purified Like Gold: Zechariah 13:9

“This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold…”
Lent is a time of refining, and this verse from Zechariah reveals how God uses trials and reflection to purify us. It may feel like fire, but it’s for our strengthening. Ash Wednesday begins a season where we willingly enter the “refiner’s fire,” trusting God to burn away what’s unholy and leave behind a faith that shines.

20. Hope in Repentance: Hosea 6:1

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.”

This verse captures the tension of Lent, pain and healing, brokenness and restoration. Hosea speaks of a people who recognize the consequences of their sin but also the tender mercy of their God. Ash Wednesday invites us into this same journey: turning back to the Lord who disciplines out of love and restores with grace.

21. God’s Kindness Leads to Repentance: Romans 2:4

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Sometimes we think repentance must come from fear, but this verse shows it’s God’s kindness that draws us to change. Lent and Ash Wednesday are grounded in this beautiful truth. God’s patience isn’t approval of sin, it’s an open door to turn around. When we experience His mercy, it should stir our hearts to humbly realign with His will.

22. Wash Me Clean: Isaiah 1:16

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”
Isaiah’s words echo with clarity and conviction. Ash Wednesday is not only about acknowledging sin, but also choosing a new way forward. This verse urges us to cleanse our lives, letting go of wrongdoing, and stepping into the purity that God desires for us. It’s an active decision to stop sinning and start living differently through grace.

23. God Is Near to the Brokenhearted: Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
This verse offers comfort and assurance for anyone entering Lent with sorrow, regret, or a heavy heart. Ash Wednesday reminds us that God draws near in our brokenness. He doesn’t turn away from contrition, He draws closer to it. His nearness is not just comforting; it’s redemptive. In our most fragile moments, God’s saving presence is most powerful.