Our Desert Reset
- Monica Walton
- 23 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Lent is meant to be a retreat to the desert to reset and orient ourselves toward God. Jesus was led by the Spirit to step away to the desert to fast, pray, and prepare for his public ministry. He spent 40 days in solitude to clear his mind and heart.
Jesus emptied Himself to be filled by the Father for the journey ahead.
Now it's our turn. Every year, we are gifted the 40 days of Lent to retreat from our usual routines and journey through our desert experience. This is a time to step away from distractions and indulgences and remember what it's like to hunger. To spend extra time in reflection and prayer. To clear our mind and heart. To reset our compass and realign our lives with God's plan. We empty ourselves so that we may be filled by the Father.
Do you feel like you're on a desert journey?
I think it's hard for most of us to step away from the action and instant gratification we have grown accustomed to. It is an immense challenge to shield or remove ourselves from the busyness of the world. Therefore, we can easily default to observing Lent as a relatively short period of time when we remove a few things in the name of fasting, add a few things in the name of prayer, and share a little time in the name of almsgiving -- but essentially our normal routine continues. We are barely inconvenienced. Lent is meant to interrupt our routine and change our norm into something better for the rest of the year.
Will these 40 days make a profound impact on the remaining 325 days?
Coincidentally, the year 325 AD is the earliest recorded liturgy, outlining the custom of new Christians setting aside 40 days to fast, pray, and prepare for Easter. Christianity was still new, so Jewish and Gentile converts devoted that time to clarify their intentions and purge their lives of anything inappropriate for Christian behavior. They were literally putting away their former self and becoming a new person in Christ.
We’ve moved away from that deep experience of Lent.
But I believe there is still great value in taking time every year to clarify our intentions and purge any possessions, habits, and priorities that disrupt or corrode our relationship with Christ.
This is a time to reflect on what we do and why we do it, and incorporate changes that realign us with following the way of Jesus. We are meant to enter the desert on Ash Wednesday and for 40 days be disciplined and deprived of our usual dependencies and facades so that by Easter Sunday, we are different, better, closer to God.
Lent is our time to reset and be made anew for the remainder of our days.
We are privileged to know God and blessed to know that He wants to live in union with us every moment of every day. We all have room to grow closer to God. So during Lent, let's halt some regular activities and reflect on their value or lack of value in our lives. Ask God what He thinks of those activities. Does He want you to replace them with something more meaningful?
On the First Sunday of Lent each year, we hear the story of the three temptations the devil used against Jesus. The tempter approached Jesus after His forty days of fasting, expecting Jesus to be weak and vulnerable. Although Jesus may have been physically weak from lack of food, He was spiritually strong from lack of worldly concerns.
On a daily basis, we face the same three temptations that Jesus did. The devil knows what superficial things we cling to, and that is where he works to draw us away from God. Invoke the Holy Spirit to lead your reflection on these.
The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
The devil says to us, "If you are a follower of the Son of God, why doesn't He satisfy your hunger and relieve your burden immediately?" We prayerfully consider, "What physical desires are pulling my attention away from God: food, drink, healing, companionship, shopping, scrolling?" Ask Him to reveal what is pulling you away.
The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
The devil says to us, "If you are a follower of the Son of God, won't He spare you from all harm?" We prayerfully consider, "How often do I rely on my own strength rather than honoring God's plan and serving Him?" Ask Him to help you rely on Him.
The devil said, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
The devil says to us, "I will show you an easier way to get all that you want out of life, just keep your eyes on the prize." We prayerfully consider, "What personal ambitions and worldly concerns are drawing me away from walking humbly with God?" Ask Him to draw you closer to Him.
The Daily Mass Readings this week give great guidance to a fruitful Lent growing in Faith.
Monday speaks of Almsgiving ~ Can I share God's Love with the poor and outcasts?
Tuesday addresses Prayer ~ Will I glorify God at all times relying on His power to save me?
Wednesday relates to Fasting ~ Am I ready to turn away from all that causes me to Sin?
Thursday teaches Trust in God ~ Do I Ask believing I will Receive, Seek believing I will Find, Knock believing it will be Opened?
Friday is about Overcoming Sin ~ Will I open myself to have a New Heart and New Spirit?
Peace be with you throughout this Lenten Season!
There's still time to get your copy of Lean into Lent for your desert journey!
Order online at: dogwoodpress.com
Or pick up a copy at: Lemuria Books
