Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday.  Today is the beginning of the season of Lent.  Today I'm contemplating how to honor this season leading up to the recognized events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday (the Resurrection of Christ).

Personally, I feel that giving up the typically obvious:  Chocolate, coffee, donuts, pizza, Facebook, french fries, movies, etc etc forever.... really doesn't serve the purpose.  When I try to give up a "thing", the only result is that I become overly obsessed for the lack of the "thing" I'm denying myself.  And if my main focus is the "thing", then fasting just doesn't really do it.

I like to read different versions of Bible passages, so I read Mark 4:1-11 in the NIV, Living Bible, and even the International Children's Bible.  I wanted to know about the 40 days/nights that Jesus spent being tempted.  These are a few observations that I noted.

1. Jesus was led out into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan.  Jesus did not decide for himself what specific thing he should cut out of his life for 40 days, it says that he ate nothing. The temptations came from Satan.
2. When the test was over, Jesus told Satan to (in layman's terms) "get out of Dodge".  If I'm reading this right, Jesus could have told him that at anytime during the test?  But he didn't.  He let Satan ramble on with his testings, only to counter each testing with scripture.  #winning
3. The passage doesn't specifically say Jesus was out there all by himself, but I tend to think that was the case.  Why?  Well, he had just gotten baptized and was close to beginning his ministry. That would have been a great reason to need some time away.  Away from friends, family, and anything else that might have been distracting him.  Perhaps he wanted to be able to hear from his Father with no interruptions?  

I'm thinking that what I need to do is be intentional about giving God what He deserves.  My praise, my worship, my devotion, and even though it's hard to fathom, my friendship.

How will I do that?  By willfully making sure that I'm in a place (spiritually and physically) where I can hear from Him.  That old saying, "God gave us 2 ears, and 1 mouth to listen twice as often as we speak" is a good guide.

If that looks like:

• Getting up earlier each day
• Turning off the radio to/from work 
• Turning the volume off on my phone for a period of time each evening
• and anything else that might come to mind

If Jesus wants me to serve someone or pray for someone or if He simply wants me to be in sync with Him,  He needs to be able to tell me and I need to be able to hear Him.
I don't think Jesus necessarily wants the "Susan w/o the coffee".   ;)  He wants the "Susan who is intently listening". 

Note:  My views may not be your views.  I always welcome constructive feedback.  I would never think that I've got it all together, because I never will.  I'm just trying to wade through what I don't quite understand and hope and pray that I keep meeting Jesus along the way.