Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Devotional: As we begin our Lenten journey, we reflect on Jesus' time in the wilderness. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into this challenging period, just as He leads us through our own trials. During Lent, we're invited to lean more deeply into our devotion to Jesus, allowing the Spirit to guide us. Today, consider the areas in your life where you need to trust God's leading, even when the path seems difficult. How can you open yourself to the Spirit's guidance during this season?

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust Your leading, even when I don't understand the path. May I be sensitive to Your Spirit's guidance in all areas of my life.

Reading: Isaiah 58:6-12

Devotional: Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that Jesus practiced before His ministry began. It's not just about abstaining from food, but about redirecting our hunger towards God. As we fast, we create space for God to work in our lives, renewing our appetites and restructuring our priorities. What might you fast from during this Lenten season? It could be food, social media, or any habit that distracts you from God. How can this fast help you focus more on your relationship with Christ?

Prayer: Father, show me what I need to set aside to draw closer to You. Help me to hunger for Your presence above all else.

Reading: James 1:12-18

Devotional: Jesus faced temptation in His weakest moment, and so do we. The enemy knows God's Word and the power of our purpose, using both to try to derail us. But like Jesus, we can stand firm on God's truth. Reflect on the areas where you feel most vulnerable to temptation. How can you prepare yourself with God's Word to resist in those moments? Remember, every temptation resisted is an opportunity for spiritual growth.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen me in moments of weakness. Help me to rely on Your Word and Your strength to overcome temptation.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Devotional: One of the temptations Jesus faced was to force God's hand, to get what was already His outside of God's timing. We often struggle with this too, wanting to rush God's perfect plan. During this Lenten season, practice patience and trust in God's timing. Are there areas in your life where you're trying to force outcomes? How can you surrender these to God's perfect timing?

Prayer: God, help me to trust Your timing. Give me patience to wait on Your perfect plan, even when I don't understand the delays.

Reading: John 4:23-24

Devotional: The ultimate temptation Jesus faced was to worship something other than God. In our lives, we face similar challenges – putting success, comfort, or our own desires before our devotion to God. Lent is a time to refocus our worship, to ensure that God alone is on the throne of our hearts. Reflect on what true worship means in your life. How can you cultivate a spirit of authentic devotion to God during this season?

Prayer: Father, purify my heart and help me to worship You in spirit and in truth. May my life be a constant act of devotion to You.

We encourage you to continue the discussion with a few friends within your HOW Church community! Here's a short discussion guide based on Pastor DJ's sermon "Close the Gap".

Opening Prayer: Begin your session with a prayer, asking for the Holy Spirit's guidance and wisdom as you discuss the sermon and its applications.

Here are some key takeaways:

1. Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, repentance, fasting, and deepening devotion to Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit leads us into challenging situations to reveal our strength and true devotions.
3. Temptation often comes when we're at our weakest, targeting areas of favor, authority, and God's plan for our lives.
4. The adversary knows God's Word and the power of our purpose, making it crucial to stay focused on God's voice.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does Lent mean to you personally? How have you observed it in the past, if at all?
2. The sermon mentions that "in the test is the revealing of the tension." Can you share an experience where you felt tension between God's calling and the voice of the accuser?
3. How do you discern between God's voice and other inviting voices in your life?
4. The sermon outlines three areas of temptation Jesus faced. Which of these do you find most challenging in your own life, and why? a) Misusing favor and authority b) Mismanaging supernatural momentum c) Modifying God's perfect plan
5. How can we prepare ourselves to resist temptation when we're feeling weak or vulnerable?
6. The adversary is described as knowing God's Word and the power of our purpose. How does this knowledge impact the way we should approach spiritual warfare?
7. What strategies can we employ to stay focused on God's voice and timing, especially when facing temptation?

Practical Applications:

1. Lenten Commitment: Choose one area of your life to focus on during Lent (e.g., prayer, fasting, devotional reading). Share your commitment with the group for accountability.
2. Scripture Memorization: Select a verse from the sermon or related passages to memorize this week, strengthening your ability to combat temptation with God's Word.
3. Temptation Journal: Keep a journal this week, noting moments of temptation and how you responded. Reflect on God's presence in these moments.
4. Prayer Partners: Pair up with another group member to pray for each other throughout the week, specifically for strength in areas of vulnerability.
5. Fasting Practice: If health allows, choose one day this week to fast from something (food, social media, etc.) and use that time to deepen your devotion to Jesus.

Closing Prayer: 
End your discussion by praying for one another, asking for God's strength to resist temptation and for a deepened devotion to Jesus throughout the Lenten season.