A Way in the Wilderness – Forty days of fasting, Forty days of Focus
40 days of opportunity
Lent is a time of spiritual preparation, 40 days of opportunity.
It can be a chance to recall and draw parallels with the 40 days of temptation that Jesus endured in the wilderness in preparation for His public ministry. It also connects with the people of God in their wilderness experience.
Into the wilderness
Scripture tells us that 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! (Matthew 4:1-2) I would be too!
As we allow ourselves to be led by God into a type of wilderness experience, we may fast from food or abstain from something. I wonder what we could give up to gain focus? In fasting, we become aware of our own human fragility and the temptations of the enemy.
Gaining focus
For Jesus the wilderness was a time of confronting the enemy’s lies and the twistings of truth by using the scriptures that were stored within Him (“it is written…”). Jesus left that wilderness experience IN THE POWER of the Spirit, and angels came and attended to Him.
With the things we face in ourselves when fasting, we may need to draw from God’s word enclosed within us. Scriptures that were implanted like seeds have been deepened, strengthened, enlivened inside us. Scriptures suddenly rise up and come out of our mouths. Truths that were in our hearts all along, rise ready to be vocalised to confront any darkness we face. We are galvanized.
Stimulated into action
The word ‘galvanize’ means to stimulate suddenly into action, to excite, to startle.
I wonder whether our faith needs to be galvanized? Perhaps Lent could be a perfect opportunity to join with millions of others around the world at the same time in a way to be galvanised. A way, as Jesus was, to be led in but empowered out, ready for mission.
Isaiah 43:19 says “I will make a way in the wilderness.”
Fed by the word of God
Jesus fasted from food; He gave it up, but the word of God fed Him. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Giving something up allows us to take up His word in a new way. If we want to see God reviving our nations, something’s got to give somewhere! I wonder what God might put His finger on so we can more fully pledge our radical allegiance to the Kingdom of God?
Prepared in the wilderness
John the Baptist spent years in the wilderness also being prepared. Luke 1:80 says of him that he “grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” After a period of 400 years (“the silent years” after Malachi the prophet), this prophet, John, was God-ordained and God-prepared to bring the word of the Lord. Mark 1:5 tells us that “the whole Judean countryside and ALL the people of Jerusalem went out to him.” Can you imagine that?!?
People poured out of their towns, drawn into the desert. People were so desperately hungry to hear the word of God that they took action—they moved and did something to go and get it.
Taking nothing for the journey
When Jesus sent out the disciples in Mark 6:8-11, He said, “Take nothing for your journey” and only specified taking sandals! They had a deep trust in the protection, provision, and miraculous power of God that they could just GO!
Was this a reminder of how, in history, the Hebrews had sandals that never wore out, feet that were never swollen, and God miraculously provided daily food?
Lacking nothing
Was this a reassurance that one day all we would ever really need is to ready ourselves with the shoes of the Gospel of peace? (Ephesians 6:15)
Philemon of Gaza, a 6th-century monk, said, “He doesn’t require us to somehow trust our ascetic efforts with the attendant danger of pride, but to put our trust in the humble love of God.”
On the evening of His death, Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out, what did you lack?” (Luke 22:35), and with a deep, in-taking of breath that reassures and reinflates our anxious souls, we read their reply:……. “Nothing!”
Wow, phew, this is our God!
Clutching our bread
‘Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life’ describes how anxious orphaned children during World War II found safety in refugee camps but were unable to sleep. Afraid they would wake up alone and hungry again, caregivers found that giving each child a piece of bread to hold at night provided comfort. Clutching the bread, they found peace, reassured that they had eaten today and would eat again tomorrow.
Who do we hold onto?
Lord Jesus, this Lent, would we hold tightly to You and cling to Your word. We choose to trust in You, God.
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)
Lent can be a time to check if it’s truly God we hold onto. Our diaries and bank accounts can help us audit how we self-comfort and fill our lives. We can ask ourselves, “What can I live with less of; so that I can really LIVE for God and His purposes?” Is there anything other than God at the center of my life that drives me? I know personally, I can so easily whittle away God-given time and resources until I get shocked or galvanized into taking dramatic action to move towards God!
Finding space
Jesus clambered into a tiny, humble boat to keep the people from crowding Him. (Mark 3:9) Jesus climbed up onto the mountaintops to pray. (Matthew 14:23) I crave space from the stuff of life to make space for God’s Spirit to move.
I crave uncluttered, uncontaminated, unpulled, unburdened, uncrowded (insert your own “un…”) space to hear the word of God.
Turning our eyes upon Jesus
Lilias Trotter, a missionary in Victorian times, wrote, “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him… He is worthy to have all there is to be had in the heart that He has died to win.” (from Focused: A Story and a Song) These words inspired Helen Lemmel to pen the well-known song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”
May the noise of this world become still this Lent
Lord, this Lent, we turn our eyes to You, Jesus. We ask that the busyness of life and the noise of this world will become still, silent, and more simple as we seek You and Your kingdom first. Amen!
About the author, Hellie Glynn
Hellie supports and encourages Filling Stations in the Midlands & Wales. She is a prophetic Bible teacher, supporting our network with leadership development and training for prophecy and prayer, which includes our ‘Equip & Empower’ online training. Based in Cheltenham, she is a recognised Prophet internationally, having worked with prophetic councils in the nation and across Europe. Alongside this she has a heart to equip and support leaders in their roles (paid and voluntary) for a variety of churches.
