Day 23 - ‘in-a-minute’
Good Morning
As you probably know, lent is partly rooted in Jesus’ wilderness experience where he had some strange company. Mark 1:12 “At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
I have been to the desert area where it is believed Jesus was led by the Spirit and I can imagine the terrain he experienced but can you imagine what his wilderness experience of being isolated, in danger and under spiritual attack was like?
Maybe you can, there are times when we feel alone, vulnerable and genuinely under attack. Maybe that’s the place where you find yourself right now. Jesus emerged from the desert having faced the devil’s temptations to take shortcuts to his rightful place as Lord of lords. In the wilderness Jesus experienced wildness and kindness, he was not alone, his Father had angels and animals tend him. By prayer and trusting in the Word he recognised those false things the enemy taunted him with.
Today, whatever situation we may be in, we are not alone, let us come to Jesus our friend and Saviour because He knows how to survive in our wilderness and how to come out the other side.
Have a good day
God Bless
Kelvin <><
A Prayer of Richard of Chichester [1197-1253]
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.
Today Let us pray for:
Those who struggle with debt
those on low incomes, and those on benefits
for debt counsellors (eg Christians Against Poverty and Citizens Advice Bureau)
for our own management of money and priorities in our Christian discipleship
Those who contribute to voluntary services -
NHS Volunteers, Chaplaincy Volunteers,
Directors of Finance and Finance Departments as they approach the Year-end
Give thanks for all opportunities to serve Proverbs 14:31 says kindness shown to the needy is an act of worship.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, it is better to light one candle, than to give up hope and curse the darkness.
It is better to join hands in one work of love than to sit on our hands and feel powerless.
Lord help us to believe that we can change things for the better. Help us to love as you have loved us. (Christian Aid Prayer)
Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me! Matt 25:40
