Lenten Devotions and Scripture, Week 3
Pick three days this week to dive deeper into scripture using the prompts below.
Note: Devotions from MinistryPass.com
Week 3, Day 1:
Matthew 4:1 (ESV)
[1] Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Led by the Spirit: Trusting God in the Wilderness
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1) After His baptism, the Spirit led Jesus not into comfort, but into a place of testing and dependence. Often God brings His children through wilderness seasons—times of uncertainty, challenge, or spiritual dryness—to deepen our trust and reliance on Him. The wilderness was where Israel learned to trust God for daily provision and where Jesus demonstrated unwavering obedience. It is in such seasons that we learn God’s faithfulness and discover how His presence is enough. Instead of resisting or resenting wilderness experiences, let’s ask what God might be teaching us, how He is shaping our faith, and how we might lean on His grace in new ways.
Questions to Consider
- When has God led you through a ‘wilderness’ season in your life?
- How did that time shape your reliance on Him?
- What is one practical way to seek God’s presence when you feel spiritually dry?
Week 3, Day 2:
Matthew 4:2 (ESV)
[2] And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Spiritual Preparation: The Purpose of Fasting
“And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:2) Before facing temptation, Jesus spent forty days fasting, seeking the Father with undivided focus. Fasting has always been a discipline that prepares the heart—allowing us to align our desires with God’s and to hunger for Him above all else. It is not just denying the body food but seeking greater dependence on God through prayer, Scripture, and worship. In the wilderness, stripped of distractions and comforts, Jesus found strength for victory over temptation. As we practice fasting—whether from food, media, or other comforts—during Lent, we grow in spiritual sensitivity, intimacy with Christ, and readiness to resist temptation.
Questions to Consider
- What practices most help you prepare your heart for trials or decisions?
- How might fasting shape your spiritual life in the coming weeks?
- What distraction could you surrender to focus more fully on Christ?
Week 3, Day 3:
Matthew 4:4 (ESV)
[4] But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Dependence on God’s Word Over Physical Needs
When tempted to turn stones into bread, Jesus responded, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) The first temptation targeted physical hunger. Jesus could have satisfied Himself miraculously, but He chose to rely on God and His Word above fleeting appetite. The enemy loves to tempt us with shortcuts and offers of instant gratification. God’s desire, however, is for us to hunger after His righteousness, trusting that He alone satisfies our deepest longings. Especially in seasons of spiritual emptiness, God’s Word is our sustenance—more essential than bread.
Questions to Consider
- Where do you most often seek comfort apart from God?
- How can you make room in your life to ‘feed’ on God’s Word daily?
- What does it mean for you to hunger after righteousness?