1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. | For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Matthew 4:1-11 | Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

DAILY THOUGHT: FACING TEMPTATIONS

When we draw aside to listen to God we may also sometimes struggle with dark thoughts and desires that don’t come from God. This happened for Jesus when he was tempted by the evil one in the desert. We can be sure that we will also struggle in this way. We need to learn to distinguish what God may be saying to us and what the evil one may be tempting us with. As we do this, we find courage and strength knowing that Christ has also been tempted and he knows exactly what we are going through. We can call out to him in our struggle and find grace to help us in our time of need. Christ Jesus empowers us to overcome temptations in the same way he did.

DAILY PRACTICE:
Pray your daily prayer request. Today think about the ways in which you are tempted to be unfaithful in your friendship with God. Share these temptations with Christ and listen to what he may be saying to you. Thank him for both his understanding of your temptations and for his availability to help you overcome them.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. W

REMEMBER: Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Matthew 4:1-11 | Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

DAILY THOUGHT: OBEDIENT LISTENING
We listen to God so that we can be more faithful in our walk with God during the day. Listening to God needs to lead us into obedience. This is what happened for Jesus in his desert experience and what must happen for us in our “desert space”. When we have heard God speaking to us, we have more to give to others, often in very practical ways, in our homes and at work or in the wider community. The more we receive in listening prayer, the more we have to give in our active lives. Or, we could say that we retreat to listen to God so that we can advance in our obedience to God in the world.

DAILY PRACTICE:
Follow the rhythm of yesterday. After making your daily prayer request, meditate again on the temptation story of Jesus (Matthew 4:1–11). This time picture the scene in your imagination, using all your senses and imagine yourself talking with Jesus about his experience. Is there a particular image of the story that captures your attention? What do you think the Lord may be saying to you? What would you like to say to him?

Let the Word of God live actively in your life… Take a deeper look at the reading.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. W

Matthew 4:1-11 | Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

DAILY PRAYER REQUEST: Lord, teach me how to listen to you.

DAILY THOUGHT: IN SOLITUDE AND SILENCE
Desert spaces are places of solitude and silence. Without these two things it is nearly impossible to grow a listening life with God. We must remind ourselves that this kind of withdrawal is not escapism or running away from life. Rather, it leads us into a greater and more effective engagement with life. We also begin to live with a far deeper consciousness of God with us through the day. This is one reason why Jesus would regularly withdraw into the desert. Can you see why having some solitude and silence in our own little “desert space” is so important?

DAILY PRACTICE:
Withdraw to your “desert space” at the time you planned. After you have made your prayer request, as suggested above, read the story of Jesus’ desert-temptations a couple of times (Matthew 4:1–11). Then ask yourself two questions: What may God be saying to me through this story? How do I respond to this? Share your thoughts and feelings about these questions with God in prayer.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. W

Matthew 4:1-11 | Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Lent is for listening. This is what Jesus did when he was tempted in the desert. In the midst of his temptations he listened to his Father. It was here, alone in the desert, that he experienced for himself what he would teach others. We do not live on bread alone. We live on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). His whole life and ministry flowed outwards from this listening. This is what we will seek to do throughout this Lenten journey. Learn to listen to the God who speaks to us.

DAILY PRACTICE:
Create for yourself at home your “desert-space” – a sacred place where you can spend time alone with God. It could be a chair in the lounge, the kitchen table after everyone has gone to work, your private study. Make a decision to go there for between five and fifteen minutes daily throughout Lent. So ask yourself today: Where at home can I be alone with God? What time in the day will be best for me? How much time will I set aside each day during Lent? Share with one other person your Lenten commitment and ask them to pray for you during this time.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. W

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 | This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Our choices always have consequences. When my children were growing up I would often say to them, “You are free to choose anything you want, but you are not free to choose the consequences.” Lent is a time to face our choices as honestly as we are able and to think about their consequences. The good news is that, when we see that some of our choices have led us to a dead end, we find ourselves in a situation to make different choices.

No matter where we may find ourselves today, no matter how dark it may be, we are being given the opportunity to make a fresh choice for life. Remember the invitation of our God: “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20)

DAILY PRACTICE:
Make two lists today: “What brings me life?” and “What takes life from me?” Write down whatever comes to mind. You can add to your lists over the next while. But today ask God specifically to guide you in making those choices that lead you more towards life. Give thanks also that God is always in the business of giving us new life in Jesus Christ.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics. W