Day 1 - The Wilderness

Author: Maria Viola

Scripture: 

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)

Reflection: The season of Lent represents something. It represents the 40 days that Jesus was in the wilderness. He had just been baptized and then felt His Father’s Spirit lead Him into the wilderness, and he obeyed. In that place, He depended on His Father through hunger, thirst, and temptation. 

I want to challenge you to really allow yourself to go into the wilderness. It is there that God will move. We must allow ourselves to step away from comforts and the fake foundations of our lives to understand what our true foundation is. 

“But it hurts!”

“It’s uncomfortable.”

“God wants me to be happy all the time.”

“Jesus went through the wilderness for me so now I can rest in what He has already done.” 

We share in Christ’s sufferings so that we can share in His glory and resurrection. Do not fall prey to the lie that there will be no trying times or that God will not call you to the wilderness. He calls us consistently so that we can be more and more like His Son every day. 

What does the wilderness look like for you? Some have decided to give up Facebook, sugar, shopping, etc. When you choose, give up something that truly causes you to walk into the wilderness, a place where you can be alone with God so that you can sit in His presence and learn. Be expectant, for He is faithful.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, I will follow you into the wilderness so that I can learn from you. Take away any foundation that is not you. Teach me what it means to share in Christ’s sufferings. Amen.