First Sunday in Lent

Then 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

Devotional

The First Sunday in Lent begins in the wilderness.

Not in celebration.
Not in triumph.
Not in comfort.

Jesus is led by the Spirit into a place of testing — not because He failed, but because preparation often happens in solitude. The wilderness is not punishment; it is formation.

Lent invites us into our own wilderness moments. It asks us to examine what we rely on, what distracts us, and what tempts us to settle for less than God’s best.

Jesus faced temptation with truth.
He responded not with emotion, but with Scripture.
He did not prove Himself — He trusted the Father.

The wilderness reminds us that hunger — physical or spiritual — reveals what we truly depend on.

This first Sunday is not about what we give up.
It is about what we cling to.

Reflection

• Where do you feel spiritually stretched right now?

• What “wilderness” might God be using to strengthen your faith?

• What are you tempted to rely on instead of Him?

Take a quiet moment today to name it honestly before the Lord.

Prayer

Father,
As this season of Lent begins, lead me through the wilderness with You.
When I feel weak, remind me that You are my strength.
When I am tempted to rely on lesser things, turn my heart back to truth.
Form in me a deeper dependence on You.
Prepare my heart for the journey toward the cross.
Amen.

Devotional for the 1st week of the Season of Lent

Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”-Joel 2:12”

Lent is not about perfection or performance. It is about returning.

Returning to God when we’ve been distracted.
Returning when we’ve been weary.
Returning when the noise of the world has drowned out His voice.

God does not ask us to arrive polished and whole. He invites us to come honestly — with all that is broken, uncertain, and unfinished. Lent reminds us that repentance is not shameful; it is hopeful. It is the doorway back to grace.

This season is an invitation to slow down, let go of what does not matter, and remember who we belong to.

Reflection

What has been competing for your attention lately?

Where might God be inviting you to return — not outwardly, but inwardly?

Take a moment to sit with that question.

Prayer Lord,
In this season of Lent, quiet my heart.
Help me release the distractions that pull me away from You. Teach me to return — not out of obligation, but out of love. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Amen

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