TEMPTED AWAY FROM GOOD

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And the Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness.

He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was

with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.  —Mark 1.12-13

Undoubtedly each of us reading this has been tempted away from good at more points in our lives than we would like to admit.  That is certainly true for me.

Recently I went away for a three-day silent retreat; certainly not a “wilderness,” right?  Rather, an atmosphere prepared to draw one nearer to Christ.

There were other retreatants as well.  Unexpectedly, I was brought face-to-face with my own hypocritical silent condemnation of people.  One woman could not stop talking.  I shunned her.  A small man with a big set of keys jangling from his pocket marched around taking pictures at times I deemed “holy” moments.  I was aggravated by him.

On the second day, back in my room, I stared out the window.  There, three stories below, was a graveyard I had hardly noticed.  As I focused on it, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Daughter, you need to die to self.”  Yes, indeed.  These words, spoken kindly, brought conviction to my prideful soul, pride which hindered me from enjoying the nearness of Jesus. The Father is so loving; so forgiving; a new opportunity Father.  A day later, the woman and I had a beautiful time together in conversation and prayer.  Perhaps we need to be more aware of how we are within, and where we are without…

This wilderness is beautiful,

Not arid miles of sand;

Yet Satan prowls ‘mid lovely greens -

In wilderness I am.

Here will I choose God’s truth filled Word,

Claiming peace and power,

Or struggle still within the webs

Of earth-bound murky hours?

By God’s grace I choose to stand,

Believing the Unseen;

For all I cannot understand,

Has fully been redeemed.

Light fills life where now I am;

Since faith, forgiveness, praise,

Replace the subtleties of lies,

Giving wings to all my days.

…but first I must acknowledge

         if I’m in a wilderness.

For Reflection:

• Satan is on the prowl…where is my need in regard to temptation?

• What does my “wilderness” look like?

• How do I need God to meet me in that place?  How is He meeting me?

• What trusted brother or sister is battling with and for me?

• Now:  I will name what tempts me away from good.

A Lenten Prayer:

[Jesus] Inner Strength,

I draw much hope and encouragement from knowing You, too, were beguiled and taunted to abandon Your truest self.  With Your grace, I can make good choices and not succumb to false satisfactions.  —Joyce Rupp.