I woke up early this morning with plans to work on several projects, noting that February had given way to March.  We have had strange weather for weeks, not that I’m complaining, but it’s weird.  As the rest of the family began to head out the door I heard the first crack of thunder.  We all stood at the door as the heavy rain came down, no one eager to step into it and all I could thing was, “In like a lion and out like a lamb!

 

As I think about the strange weather I cannot help but think about how physical events can help us recognize movement in the spirit realm.  I prayed this morning specifically about vision and wisdom because as I look at what is happening around me I cannot help but feel like the LORD is indeed doing a new thing.  Today begins our observance of Lent.  I don’t know how many years we’ve been doing this, but as a Church we participate with a Global Prayer Event called: Seek God for the City.  As a Church we will spend the next Forty days contending for our city and the nations of the world.

 

I believe that God is ushering in a new season.  It is a new spiritual season of movement that is gaining momentum as the physical season adjusts and changes. Winter was a season of rest and dormancy, but spring is accelerating new life and growth. God is at work all around us and invites us to believe and participate, not because he needs us, but because our choice to trust, surrender and obey develops deeper intimacy with Him.  God’s greatest desire is for complete reconciliation, of which the ground work has already been laid.

 

I’ve learned that when God speaks it is important to get low and slow so that the word can take root in the heart.  It is not a coincidence that today is the first day of Lent.  Today marks the beginning of Forty days in the wilderness.

 

Lent: Forty Days in the Wilderness

 

Lent is a Christian religious observance that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends about six weeks later.  As Christians we practice this observance for Forty days just as Jesus spent Forty days in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.

 

Like everything else, this too can become a religious obligation, but if you dig deeper, search out your heart and lean into the embrace of the Father, this 40 day observance can become profoundly life changing.

 

Lent isn’t about what you do, or don’t do, it is about practicing the presence of God.  Forty days in the wilderness is all about trusting the truth of the word of God and then obeying it.  There are certainly activities and disciplines that you can choose to do to help you focus on the LORD, but make no mistake about it, the practice is not about the method, it’s about positioning the heart and that always starts with surrender.

 

 

 

Forty Days Fixed on The LORD

 

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.  For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hunger.”  Matthew 3:16-4:2

It is significant to note that before Jesus followed the Spirit into the wilderness, God affirmed him publicly as His beloved son. It was an important truth that needed to set itself in his heart, before he could impart any message to anyone else.

 

I don’t know how long it was until Jesus went into the wilderness, but the scriptures tell us that this forty day journey happened before he began his public ministry.  Jesus knew his purpose, but because of his humanity he had to rely of God for everything–just like you and me.  Jesus could have ventured out with his followers and commendation from God, but he didn’t.  Instead we read that Jesus followed the leading of the Spirit into the wilderness, for Forty days where he experienced aggressive temptation from the Devil.

 

Jesus took the truth he heard and began to press in.  An intentional choice to deny the body food, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights.  I imagine those forty days were pretty wild as he practiced the presence of God, because his sole purpose in submitting to this exercise was deeper intimacy with the Father.

 

Forty Days of Process and Challenge

 

The Devil was relentless and pushed him in his weakness.  Satan tempted him as he twisted scripture and blatantly challenged Jesus regarding the word God had spoken over him.

 

…If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone” Matthew 4:6

 

Jesus intentionally practiced the presence of God during his Forty days in the wilderness.  He denied himself comfort and basic needs so that he could effectively practice trust. He practiced over the Forty days in the wilderness submitting to process and challenge choosing self-discipline so that the truth could take root and grow.  Jesus kept his eyes on the Father, and rehearsed truth.

 

I love this testimony of Jesus and the Spirit in the wilderness because it encourages me. Jesus knew that hearing the truth wasn’t enough, it needed to be consumed.  He needed to be still with the LORD and allow the truth to change him, strengthen him, position him, and empower him.  Jesus’ submission to obey the leading of the Spirit into some hard battles established a profound and powerful example of what it means to trust and obey.

 

 

 

 

Trust activates the faith muscle.   Faith grows as it is exercised and practiced.  Because we live in a fallen world, we will get ample opportunity to practice faith, but God has given us everything we need to overcome if we listen, trust, and obey.

 

Forty Days of Self-Denial

 

When I was a little girl Lent was a big deal.  My family attended an Anglican Church, which traditionally commemorated this observance with self-denial.  Growing up in Northern Ontario we celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday by gathering in our fellowship hall for a church dinner of pancakes–Shrove Tuesday.  That’s all I remember about it, except that as a kid, it was pure delight!  We would enjoy our sweet dinner and discuss what we were going to give up for lent.  One year I gave up chocolate and another year I gave up a favorite TV show.  All through the Forty days of lent we would lament the thing we gave up, always looking for loop holes.

 

 

 

 

Self-denial is an important discipline to learn.  In fact, it is a key foundational concept in the whole understanding of freedom.  There is a tendency to use freedom as a license to behave willfully.  Freedom is absolutely about the right to choose,  but do not forget that self-control is also an appropriate choice in many situations.  One of my favorite sayings is: Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.   Practicing delayed gratification is important in our spiritual growth. Self denial is a practice that aligns your will with the Father’s will.  When you set aside what you want and wait on him it opens the way for deeper intimacy.

 

The early years of Lenten practice for me, were religious.  I grew up going to church, but it wasn’t until I was a teenage that I met Jesus.  So for many years, it was all about going through the motions. After I gave my life to Christ, Lent took on a whole new meaning.  The practice of self-denial and delayed gratification became a way into a sacred place I’d never known before.

 

Getting at the Heart

 

I really believe that God’s goal is reconciliation.  Salvation is a beautiful gift of redemption, but there is still a reckoning that has to happen.  God wants a restored relationship and the only way to get at that is to start in the heart. Forty Days in a quiet place can really make a difference.

 

Receiving the gift of salvation begins with accepting the truth of the Gospel.  Jesus came, he died, and he rose again.  He took on the sin of humanity, and shed his perfect blood as the atonement, forever clearing the way for reconciliation.  Agreement with this profound word of truth positions the believer for complete restoration, healing, and wholeness.

 

Here’s the thing, many times our humanity just gets in the way.  It’s too hard and before you know it, your will is right back in control.  Paul talks a lot about this challenge in Romans Chapter 7.

 

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”

Romans 7:16

 

God knows your heart better than you do because he created it.  He has done everything in his power to secure the healing of your heart, but he will never force himself on you-never.  God will not violate your freedom to choose, but he will pursue you and use everything to draw you back.  That is immeasurable love.

 

 

 

 

Forty Days Going Deeper

 

So how are you doing?  Sometimes the very idea of picking an area to cut out for Forty days can feel overwhelming.  There can be feelings of guilt because even though it feels like the right thing to do, the heart still wants to serve itself.  Maybe it’s time to take a different approach.

 

Before you commit to adding or cutting anything from your life for this next forty days, take some time to sit and meet with the LORD regarding his heart for you.  Your identity and position as beloved child of God is actually your place of authority, but if you don’t believe what God says is true, then you have already conceded to the enemy.

 

Consider what the LORD may be saying to you in this season.  Perhaps you have heard a definitive word or a revelation from the Spirit of God.  Take some time to sit with it.  Take some time to press in and pray with a quiet, listening heart.  As you meet with the LORD over his word allow the truth to settle into the deep parts of your heart, soul, and mind, so that it literally becomes a part of who you are.  Hearing truth and knowing it are two very different things.

 

Do you feel lead to abstain from anything over the next forty days?  Or do you feel like you want to add a new habit?  Go deep, dear friend, and let the Spirit led you in the wilderness.  Keep your eyes fixed on the Father and trust his word, because it is powerful.

 

 

 

 

You’ve Got This!

Can I just say one last thing?  Be courageous!  Going deep means giving up your footing and the only way to come out of that well, is by radically trusting the mighty hand of God.  This messy process is called refinement.  Just keep practicing and your faith muscle is going to grow.  Eyes on Daddy-God, he is the way through. Go ahead and lean in…

 

For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness and I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19