February 21, 2021 - The First Sunday in Lent
refrain:
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow through the wilderness,
Calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, wind on the sea.
vs. 2:
You swept through the desert,
You stung with the sand,
And you goaded your people,
With a law and a land;
And when they were blinded,
With idols and lies,
Then you spoke through the prophets,
To open their eyes.
“And the Spirit immediately drove him 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. ”
Who do you call on when you feel lost in the wilderness, tempted, when beasts attack, when Satan approaches, when you are beaten, so beaten one more day will break you?
As we begin our first full week of the Lenten season, we will find hope in grace alone, thanks to the power of The Spirit, the power of The Christ, the power we long for, when we feel powerless.
As we look to Jesus being led into the wilderness, do not read these verses too quickly. Take special note who drove Jesus into the wilderness to let Satan know Satan was powerless; The Spirit! Take special note who came to give power and peace to Jesus; the angels waited on him.
Trust whatever wilderness you face each day, whatever wilderness you will encounter in the week ahead, The Spirit has already come to you to give you power. This is a Spirit of gentleness, and restlessness, both protecting you and stirring you from placidness. As you live in grace alone, be blessed by The Spirit's presence and power, call on the angels to wait on you, and trust the One who is already with you!
Let us pray: Lord today I long for you, and I call on you. Hear me say the word, make the announcement, put in the request, trust the promise: for you are already with me, I am already safe, I am already saved, in your grace alone. Do not let me be broken. Wait on me and be with me always. With you already in my presence, I have all the power I need, I can be led through any wilderness with you leading the way. In your name and your power, I pray and live anew in grace alone. Amen.
