Dear Friends,

This week is the first week of Lent, and our first week of “Darkness.” Thank you for choosing to go on this journey of decent with us. 

Today, we want to invite you to listen to the Introduction and “Week One - The Desert.” We will start where Jesus started—in the desert where he was tempted by the devil. Throughout your day and your week, reflect on the following verse:

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1, 2; NIV)

If you would like to explore the expanded passage, feel free to read through verse 11 of Matthew 4. Don’t shy away from questions that may arise as you read these verses. Take your time and read through this passage throughout the week, welcoming questions or confusion as old friends. Try to remember a time when you weren’t quite so certain about your faith. 

If you have chosen to fast from something, lean in to that hunger or unmet desire. Offer it to God, and invite him in to the difficulty of letting that “thing” go, whatever it may be. 

We are praying for you. We are for you. We are in this with you. Be encouraged!

See you next week.