How Will You Spend Lent?

Today is the beginning of Lent. 

 Jesus' journey into the wilderness. 

A journey he took willingly. 

Alone. 

For forty days. 

The bible is quiet on what happened during that time. 

One is left pondering what the Savior endured.

We know his sustenance did not come from food. 

He feasted on time with God. 

He knew what was coming. 

His time; short. 

Death drew near. 

Yet he purposed on. 

He went to the wilderness so he could feast on the Goodness that awaited. 

When Jesus stepped out from the wilderness.

The enemy Satan was right there to greet him. 
He gave him no time or warning. 
He was right there to use the very thing he wanted most; against him. 

Our weary and hungry Savior faced this challenge the way we each should. 

Armed with the word of God. 

He didn't stutter and wonder what to say. 

He didn't complain about how tired and hungry he was. 
He didn't ask, if they could possibly to this at a more convenient time. 

No. 

He simply met adversity with Scripture. 

One.

Matthew 4:1-11

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him,“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Satan tries to use Jesus' tactic against him.
 Quoting scripture.
But Jesus sticks to the only Truth He knows. 

Two.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, 
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,

 for it is written,‘He will command his angels concerning you,’and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,

    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Three.

 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him,“Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

    and him only shall you serve.’”

Bam!
And with the Ancient Word.
Satan was pushed away.

Then the devil left him, and behold, 

angels came and were ministering to him.

Over the years I have come to appreciate the challenge of adding an attribute of Christs nature for my Lenten challenge. 

Instead of giving up something. 

I try to work on an area in great need in my life. 

Aren't we all in need of challenges to be more Christ like? 

Won't you join me in this journey? 

Ephesians 4:22-24

that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

I seek that which is Holy. 

I long for the joy of surrender. 

My character is being shaped by the one who bore the

 scars for my sake. 

We journey to Jesus by way of the Cross. 

With knees bowed low and hands lifted high we are changed. 

Moment by moment. 

Grace upon Grace.