Blessings to you as we reach the fifth week of Lent. I pray your journey has been reflective and fruitful regarding how good our God is to us.
As we continue our journey, let us turn our eyes to the readings for today and see how God’s people gave up comforts, old ways, and pride in the quest for something much better although at times it was a struggle to do so.
Into The Wilderness
The prophet Isaiah takes us back to the time of the exodus when the Hebrew people were living a life of servitude in Egypt; but through the actions of Moses, God sent them out into the wilderness where they wandered for forty years giving up even the poor comforts they once had. It got so bad, the people began to ponder if being a slave in Egypt was better than following God’s instructions given to Moses who assured them of a promised land. They complained against God to the point that they made God their adversary though He saved them from Egypt’s army, fed them with manna and quail in the desert, healed them from poisonous snake bites, gave them victory in battle and eventually delivered them to the promised land.
During times of struggle, it seems easy to forget how good God is to us. Where does our mind go when times are hard, or the chips are down? Is God nearer to us or do we feel that God has abandoned us? I think these are great questions to always ponder, but even more so during the season of Lent because we are more attuned to taking some time to reflect.
Spiritual Fruits
Here is some spiritual fruit that today’s readings offer us:
1. When you find yourself in a struggle, do not think God has abandoned you, rather discern the renewal that God is bringing upon you. What special gift of holiness is the Lord instilling in me?
2. Understand that personal improvement and spiritual growth comes at the sacrifice (giving up) of some old comfort. What exodus is the Lord calling me to?
3. Reflect on the great things God has done for you (family, friends, teachers, beautiful vacation spot, favorite foods, just to give you a starting point). Do I rejoice and thank the Lord for the many gifts received?
4. Take some time to contemplate the gift that is God. Am I quick to find the flaws and sinfulness in others when I should be pruning vices out of my life?
In these remaining days of Lent may you draw ever closer to our Lord because He is all we ultimately need. And may we joyfully count all those things given up during Lent as loss.
This was really awesome to read. Thanks for creating it. You made a long-term fan and I’ll return to see more. Thank you for sharing.
Tristan, thank you so much for helping us continue to reflect and call to mind those things that our Scriptures today revealed. It most certainly brought to light more insights and personal challenges that must be delt with as we come to the close of this Lentin journey. Prayers for all of us trying to become closer in our relationship with Jesus.
Dionne, thank you for your comment. I gained a new insight into the Lenten season this year. I am looking at it as more a Spiritual Retreat season that embraces my shortcomings head on, welcoming the pain of my brokenness. Using them as spiritual weights to be lifted over and over so that I’m much stronger and closer to the Lord as I enter into the Easter season. Continued blessings to you!
Thank you for your wonderful insight. I will try to remember these words when I begin to lose hope. Thank you again, and God bless you.
Kathy, thank you for your comment. May your Lent produce the richest blessings from the Lord – our only hope.