Life Question: What Should We Do With Our Time In The Woods? It's a week into our Lenten journey and I have to admit, I did not know what I was going to "give up". I struggle with this question every year and every year. I go tripping through the woods on my Lenten journey. Why??? I keep looking at Lent as having to give up something. It didn't hit me until just now, it's not about what we're giving up, but instead what is it that we are giving in to? All along Jesus's journey in the woods, Satan tempted him with everything he had at his disposal. Yet, all along the way Jesus was able to thwart all his attempts.....he knew his Father would be at his side through his time of trial. He fought Satan with the only weapons....The Word of God. It's much the same battle that the persecuted are continuing to suffer in many places around the world for their faith and belief in the Lord today. How do they manage to overcome it? To fight it? To survive it? Their belief in the Word of God, in God's Truth and in His salvation of our souls. The tools the persecuted rely on in their time of trial are the strongest they have: faith, prayer, belief in His holy power and Word and the praying they do for the repentance of their persecutors in the faith that their hearts will be turned to the True Vine who can save them. in some of these situations for the persecuted the torture is so severe that rather than endure it for another day. The prisoner is forced into "renouncing" their faith. In reality, when the persecutors of them celebrate in their "victory" the prisoners are still the victors, because no amount of torture can undo a relation one has with God. Let us reflect on this during our Lenten journey. Blessings, Liz Ciccone |