Fast 40: Practicing the Ancient Spiritual Discipline of Lentਨਮੂਨਾ

Just as there is a Holy Trinity in heaven, there is an unholy trinity on earth. These three worldly evils oppose God's will for our lives and continually tempt us to sin, just as they tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

The first is the "lust of the flesh." It is the desire for food, sex, and pleasure—a desire that, in itself, is not evil but becomes evil when it becomes immoderate. It opposes Christ because it perverts the nature of man from the true pattern found in Jesus.

The second is the "lust of the eyes," the desire we also call covetousness or avarice. It is continually dazed and dazzled by the wealth of the world—cars, boats, clothes, houses, awards, vacations, titles, riches, etc.—and it will do anything to achieve those things. It opposes the Father because it refuses to be grateful and content with "every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17) that comes from Him.

The third is the "pride of life," which is dangerous because it creates delusion. It not only finds security and sufficiency in possessions but prides itself on them. It worships itself through them, basking in their glory. And it opposes the Holy Spirit, who teaches us that the way to identity is through humility.