Lent: A Season of Drawing Closer to GodShembull

[IMAGE CONTENT] Week 2 Filling Filling with Prayer Read : Matthew 6:6; Luke 5:15–16 SOAP : Matthew 6:6 > But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. Into the Text Last week, we studied fasting and why it is such an important spiritual practice during the season of Lent and beyond. While fasting is meant to empty us, we must be intentional with how we fill that emptiness. If our fasting is not careful and intentional, we can quickly fill up what we have emptied with worldly distractions. Fasting is designed to remove the things that distract us and pull us away from God so we can be filled with Him instead. This week, we will look at what we can do to fill ourselves with the things of God. Jesus gives us a wonderful example of filling our lives with prayer. Though He was continually doing ministry, He often took time to retreat to the wilderness and pray. We know Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days before He was tempted by Satan (more on that in a few days), but He also filled His time with prayer. Prayer is how we communicate with God, not just to let Him know our needs. As we grow in our walk with Him, He will direct our hearts, our passions, and our desires. Fasting helps us focus on God and remove distractions. Through His Word, we learn more about who He is, and through prayer, we ask Him for guidance and direction. Fasting removes distractions so we can solely focus on God and grow in our walk with Him as we spend time in prayer.