"With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments." Psalm 119:10
As we approach mid-week of the first week of Lent - this should be our constant prayer. We have made an honest effort to seek out God and His ways. We have prayed and fasted. we have attended Stations of the Cross and we have given alms for the poor. So far seven days into Lent we are doing pretty good. We are happy that we have been able to honor our pledge to make Lent different this year. Although we did not give up chocolate, cigarettes, alcohol or TV shows - we have added hours of extra time in prayer and devotional exercises. Yes we are doing good and feeling good about this minor accomplishment.
But we have to remember that Satan is lurking in the shadows somewhere waiting to destroy our plans and good intentions. We must not allow ourselves to become arrogant or smug about what we have been able to do so far. We must maintain a sense of humility - we must become that quiet humble servant anxiously waiting on God and what He has in store for us.
We have used seven of our forty days of Lent and done well so far - but that does not mean that the next thirty-three days will be easy or as fruitful. No - we must remain diligent - constant in prayer and not let our guard down. We want to be true to the Gospel message of Jesus - we want to be steadfast - we do not want to wander from the path that He has set us on.
Deacon Dale
