Reflection and Awe: Lent's PurposeSample

Reflections

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. – James 4:7-8 NIV

At the conclusion of each topic discussed in this series, we will take time to pause and consider the spiritual journey we’ve undertaken throughout the week. In Scripture, we often see Jesus withdraw from the noise of the world to prepare and pray in solitude, giving time and space for the Holy Spirit to minister to His heart. In the same way, we encourage you to set aside a quiet moment during these reflections. Use this time to seek God’s presence and recapture a sense of awe for who He is and what He’s doing in your life.

Reflecting on the Week

Let us take an opportunity to pause, reflect, and take stock of those things that have stirred your heart. Here are some key insights we explored together:

Ash Wednesday

At the start of this series, we discussed Ash Wednesday—a tradition symbolizing our intention to burn away the old and refocus on the new. It reminds us that this world is not our final destination. From dust we came, and to dust we will return.

• What has God highlighted as areas of your life that need to be "burned away"?
• What distractions have stolen your attention from the eternal?
• How can you rekindle your awe of God’s eternal promises?

Jesus’ Temptations in the Wilderness

Throughout the week, we studied the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness. These attacks from the enemy challenged His flesh, loyalty to His Father, and sense of self.

• In what ways do we allow the flesh to rule our spirit?
• Are we stuck in religious routines that overshadow our relationship with God?
• How do we measure success in our lives?
• What moments of awe have you experienced as you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in your own wilderness?

A Call to Realignment

Take a moment to write down the thoughts and convictions God brings to your heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you realign with His ways. Consider praying the powerful and introspective prayer of David from Psalm 139:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. - Psalm 139:23 - 34 (NIV)

May the Lord bless you as you reflect and respond to His leading.