First Sunday of Lent

In all of my study and preparation for this Lent study. Here’s an interesting face about Lent you may not have known: Originated in the fourth century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays. The 6 Sundays in Lent are thought of as “mini-Easters” and are not included in the 40 days.  (So really, we are fasting for 46 days.)

While observing Lent involves giving something up, it is also a about putting something positive in its place.  The element of Almsgiving or Acts of Charity is an important part of Lent and helps us to become more like Christ.  I eagerly recommend asking God each day to show you someone who needs an encouraging word or act of kindness. If you keep your eyes and heart open, you will see many opportunities to share God’s love throughout your day. This was on of my favorite parts of celebrating Lent last year.

Also, take time to absorb all the promises that God has for us in Psalm 91.  When we love God and acknowledge His name, He promises to be our…

• Refuge
• Fortress
• Guard
• Rescuer
• Protector
• Companion
• Deliverer

Daily Scriptures:           

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labor. 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.

Psalm 91:1-2, 10-15

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

Romans 10:8-13

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Luke 4:1-13 – The Temptation of Jesus

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’ ” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: ” ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Lenten Prayers:

Let us pray 
  that this Lent will help us reproduce in our lives 
  the self-sacrificing love of Christ. Father, 
through our observance of Lent, 
help us to understand the meaning 
of your Son’s death and resurrection, 
and teach us to reflect it in our lives. 
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever. 

Intercessions:

Let us pray to our loving Redeemer, who gained for us this season of grace.
Let us pray to Him, saying: 
   Lord, create a new spirit in us. 
Christ,
– may we walk today in newness of life.
Lord, you have brought blessings to all mankind,
– help us to share your concern for the good of all.  
Healer of body and soul, cure the sickness of our spirit,
– so that we may grow in holiness through your constant care.

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, 
help me to use my life to reflect your glory 
and to serve others as your son Jesus did.

Amen.