Psalm 63:1
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Though we try to avoid the desert experience, God leads us to the wilderness to reveal Himself to us in new and life-giving ways. The wilderness calls us to be still, reflect, pray, wrestle, and to listen to God. Our wilderness experience tends to bring to the surface what is happening deep within us, and it is possible that we find our-selves, similarly to Jesus, being prepared for what lies ahead.
The desert experience lays bare our inner emptiness, detaches us, and can simplify a person's life down to the bare essentials. In the spiritual desert we are confronted by all our baggage and dark spots. We resist going into the silence and quiet because we do not like what we see there.
Desert time is vital to a mature relationship with God. If we are committed in our faith, then God is going to bring us to the desert at some point to look deeply at ourselves and see ourselves the way God sees us. This means we will have to confront the dark spots of our lives and the things we do our best to hide from God and from the rest of the world.
Lent Spiritual Prompt
Do I acknowledge my complete dependence on God?
Do I trust the power and presence of God in my life?
Do I prefer the easy way, the path of least resistance and the most gratification?
Do I value money, time, and prestige more than people?
Pray
Gracious God, you have led me to this wilderness to heal me, change me, and reveal yourself to me. I trust in your plan for me as well as your willingness and ability to provide for me here.
Quiet my heart to hear your voice. Father, I don't want to resist your will and your timing. Help me lay down my agenda and my pride.
Teach me submission and humility. Let me know your present as I wander in this wilderness.
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