And the Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. (Mark 1.12-13 NRSV).
Father of All, your Spirit took Jesus away into the wilderness for forty days. As we observe forty days of Lent, we pray that your Spirit will direct us also.
The wilderness is lonely and strange. In the wilderness, even Jesus could be tempted. God our strength, give us the courage to risk the challenges of new and strange places, that your church may be strong and be found righteous in your sight. As we give thanks for the good things that you have done among us, we pray that we may be responsive to your challenges for our future. As your Spirit led Jesus, lead and guide us we pray.
Creator of All, the world is full of richness and beauty. Yet nearly all the time, it seems to be in some kind of wilderness, like Moses in the backside of the desert, and we feel powerless. Help us to accept our situations as Jesus accepted the wilderness, and to learn to love wherever we are. But teach us also how to walk with you to amend our lives and change our nation and our world – your world.
Healer of All, for too many, life is a wilderness of illness and suffering. Yet Jesus also knew suffering in the desert and on the cross. And because he endured to the end, we know that human suffering will also end. We pray for all our friends whose lives are presently in a Lenten wilderness.
Hope of All, we believe that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, our wilderness experience will end in your kingdom of light and life. We ask your special care for those who have died and those who have been bereaved.
Because Jesus overcame, we know that we also are able to overcome, not in our own strength, but by your grace and in the power of your Spirit. We give thanks. Amen
If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (Revelation 3.12 NRSV)