EASTER SPIRITUAL INVENTORYSample

LENT

As we embark upon the Lenten Season, this devotional will take us down a path that brings added light to the excitement that comes with Easter. The Season of Lent is 40 days, leading the way to Jesus's death on the cross, His burial, and Resurrection. Many denominations fast (giving up something they enjoy) to represent Jesus' 40-day fast in the Judean Desert. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert after John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." Matthew 4:1-2

As children look forward to Easter treats and bunnies, may we also ingrain within them and ourselves something eternal! As we read the news online and listen to the nightly news, it is easy to become discouraged by national disasters, crime, and corruption, and we wonder what has happened to morality.

Jesus was 'lent' for far more than a season. He came into the world as a Savior that cost Him his earthly life. His life on earth was an example to us of how to live daily. Jesus was a man on earth and tempted just as you and I are, yet He remained faithful and obedient to the Father! His temptations are a lesson from which we can learn. No wonder he included temptation within the prayer when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

"And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13

Practice: As part of our Easter spiritual inventory, think of those things in life that have you tempted. It could be food, overspending when the budget is tight, watching movies filled with sex, foul language, or temptation at the office. Whatever tempts us, we know, is not from God, for He is not a tempter. I encourage you to strengthen your spiritual walk and faith by turning away and not flirting with temptation. How do we flirt with temptation? An example is purchasing foods that are hard to resist. If they aren't accessible, you have put temptation away.