Lent 2020: Week 2 Recover

Blessings to everyone on this first Sunday of Lent 2020. Today is Sunday, March 1st, 2020, only 19 days until Spring! 🌷🌼🌸

The verse for today is taken from the book of Matthew where he writes the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Are you currently in the wilderness or perhaps emerged from a wilderness? Life is a wilderness if only metaphorically speaking. We people decide to trek their way through an actual wilderness the most important thing they do is plan for possible obstacles and/or situations. They prepare for the worst, to ensure safety and survival. Life is the same way, we want to be prepared. This is why we send children to pre-preschool, preschool, regular school, and provide opportunities for continued education whether it be college or job skills/trade opportunities. We are fascinated with learning though some might deny it thinking things like, my kid just plays video games or plays music all day…I would agree that a job of some sort is relative but to play video games successfully takes skills, a set of skills actually. And music, it’s more than liking an instrument, it takes commitment and practice to actual play the instrument and make music.

Feeling as if you’re in a wilderness can evoke many emotions but I want to remind you that we are never alone. Though at times, we may feel alone. God promises to always be with us. Thinking about Jesus in the wilderness and the circumstance in which he was tempted by the devil, I cannot imagine. Jesus had been drive to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, then Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights. To say he was famished would be an understatement! It was then in this weakened state, the devil appears and begins to ask Jesus questions. If I go more than 24 hours without food I’m delirious! Jesus though He was hungry and tired, weak and probably a little cranky , resisted the devils trickery statements and loaded questions. He did not give into the devil. My personal thought is that Jesus trusted and relied upon His Father for strength. Jesus asks no less from us, right? Jesus is the Great teacher and the lesson I’ve learned from Jesus being tempted is to trust in God and His word. Jesus didn’t need trickery to outwit the devil. He quoted scripture and spoke truth. We know that Jesus had the power to overtake the devil at any time throughout their interaction but at what cost. What a huge lesson can be learned if we are willing to see it…Jesus did not need brute force to dispute the devils claims, Jesus did not have to prove who he was, he simply stated the obvious truth. In the end, the devil simply left because his tricks and smooth talking manipulative tongue lost.

As we continue our journey are there things that could be lost, recover, and rediscovered about by facing demons instead of fleeing from them? Remember, you are not alone and God has a host of angels watching over you.

Practice:

What do you need to face instead of flee?

1. One way to find out is to map out the last month.

2. Write down 5 significant moments.

3. If you were to draw a terrain of your last month, would it be mountainous, a flowing river or a deep woods?

dark forest wallpapers background | Forest wallpaper, Forest path

Prayer:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” Amen. ~Psalm 23:1-6

ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below. 

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🙏🏻🌻

References:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_4:11

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.abingdonpress.com/

The Sanctuary for Lent 2020 by Sam McGlothlin