Editor’s note: Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Enjoy this excerpt of Twas the Season of Lent as we turn our hearts toward reflection on Jesus’ gift of His life in our stead.
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Welcome to the holy season of Lent. Do you know what Lent means? Lent is the time when we get ready for Easter. Lent is related to the word springtime. Look outside your window. Maybe it doesn’t look like spring yet. Perhaps the ground is covered with a white blanket of snow; the skies above might be gray and the trees may be bare. That’s because springtime is a waiting time. The bulbs planted deep in the dark soil will be waking up soon. The buds on the trees are quietly waiting to burst into bloom. We know that all the earth is getting ready to grow and change.
Lent is a waiting time too. For forty days we wait for Easter to come. And as we wait, we get ready —
to grow and change,
to listen to God,
to ask questions,
to think about the choices we make, to try to put God first.
For the next forty days, we will journey through Lent together. We’ll begin in a dry, dusty desert and end in a hope-filled garden. As we travel, we’ll hear the stories of Jesus; we’ll find out what Jesus said about living well and loving others; about what is important and who is important. And as we turn the pages, God will be with us on this journey — helping us to grow, helping us to change, helping us to get ready for Easter.
Welcome to Lent.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for this book we hold.
Thank You for being with us as we journey through Lent together.
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Forty Days and Forty Nights
It was hot and quiet and still in the desert. Jesus was thirsty. He closed His eyes and thought about the day before, when His friend, John, had plunged Him under the cold, clear waters of the River Jordan. How glorious it had felt to be baptized!
Jesus remembered seeing the clouds part above His head, as if the gates of Heaven had opened to let God speak nine wonderful words that Jesus would never, ever forget:
You are My Son. I am pleased with You.
Jesus opened His eyes and smiled. He knew who He was. He was God’s own Son. And God was pleased with Him.
Jesus stayed in the desert for forty long days and forty long nights.
Nothing to eat. Nothing to drink. Listening to God. Trying to think.
Under the blazing hot sun by day and the light of the silver moon by night, Jesus talked to God.
- What do you want Me to do?
And whenever He heard a voice that tempted Him to think about Himself, Jesus closed His eyes and thought about God instead.
When the forty days were over, Jesus knew what God wanted Him to do. He stood up, wrapped His cloak around Himself, and set out for the synagogue in Nazareth, leaving a trail of footprints behind Him in the sand.
Prayer
Dear God, during these next forty days, help us find time to listen to You. Help us to think about what You want us to do.
Excerpted with permission from Twas the Season of Lent by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova, copyright Glenys Nellist.
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Your Turn
Spend some time with Jesus today thanking Him for your salvation and the forgiveness of sins. Think about His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. And, ask Him what He wants you to do. ~ Devotionals Daily