Pushing Through

Matthew 4:1-11

I did it! I made it through my first day of Lent doing the things I committed to do. In case I forgot to tell you my plans for Lent it's that I will be giving up sweets (all sweets - candy, chocolate, cake, cookies, etc.) and reading the Acts of the Apostles from beginning to end. I know...not very difficult things to commit to, but, please remember that for the next 6 1/2 weeks I won't be able to have any sweets, including ice cream, and I have to finish the book of Acts.

Having done a Lenten focus like this before, I can personally tell you there will be a day, a time, a moment when my need for a cookie will become overwhelming. There will be a day, time, moment when I realize I haven't yet read from Acts and it's past my bedtime. There will be a day, time, moment when I will think of all the excuses to make myself comfortable in making the choice to have that donut or skip my reading for that day.

It's on those occasions I will have to reach deep into myself to resist the temptations. And if I know myself as well as I do, those temptations will be strong. When those temptations become overwhelming I will need to find that inner strength to push me past those temptations. It's in the experience of getting through the provocation of breaking the 40-day vow I've made that my the relationships I'm hoping to repair and rebuild are being strengthened.

I'm hoping the next 39 days will be as successful as yesterday. If the day comes, though, when I need to find that inner strength to keep moving forward I know I will be able to gather that strength from those closest to me as well as, and mostly from, my God through Jesus Christ.