Lent week2 Saturday

 Luke 5:16 

"But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer."

The wilderness can also be a place of formation and a place of prep-aration. The Israelites took a census and got organized during their time in the wilderness. John the Baptist was a voice crying out from the wilderness. Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. Once Christ began healing and teaching, people followed him everywhere, but he often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

In our spiritual desert experience, there is time and space to think and pray.

The desert has things to teach us. We see the careful provision of our Father in a different light. His love stands out in stark relief against the background of the desert's barren landscape. In the wilderness, we come to the end of ourselves. We learn in new and deeper ways to cling to Him and wait for Him.

When we come out of the desert, the desert lessons stay with us.

We take them with us into the next stretch of our Christian journey.

We remember the God who led us through the desert, and we know that He is with us still. Desert times are fruitful times. Though they seem barren, lush fruit is being produced in our lives when we walk through the desert. The Lord will sanctify our desert times and make them to be fruitful in our life.

Lent Spiritual Prompt

What have you learnt this week about the desert experience?

One thing is clear in Scripture: We are never alone in the wilder-ness. If you are walking through a wilderness of your own, pray to be reminded of the promise that God will never leave or forsake

you.

Pray

Father, you've 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.

Dear Lord, I know that wherever I am, You are with me guiding, protecting, providing. You make streams flow in the desert; You cause a root to grow out of dry ground. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to see You work when all hope seems lost.

I know I am never alone in the wilderness. I pray to be reminded of the promise that God will never leave or forsake me.

In my wilderness experience show me that desert times are fruitful times. Let me have faith to know that though this time seems bar-ren, lush fruit is being produced in my life when I walk with God through this desert. Please Lord sanctify my desert time and make it to be fruitful in my life.