Lent 2011: Godless, Life Without Spiritual Resources

In previous weeks of Lent 2011: Relentless Acts of Justice, we’ve connected with individual stories by exploring related Gospel passages. This week, as we experience what it’s like to do without the spiritual resources we normally depend on, we are simplifying our daily devotions. Try to spend some time reflecting on the following thoughts.

• Reflect on how followers of Christ can rejoice and grow through the suffering of persecution as they receive comfort. Pray that those who are being persecuted would have joy as they grow into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus.
• Write a journal entry about what you are experiencing so far as if you were at risk for persecution by refraining from using words like Christ, Church, God, etc.
• Reflect on how persecution advances the Gospel in light of the way the persecuted suffer with Jesus, suffer together as a church, receive comfort from Christ, and rejoice and grow through their sufferings and lack of resources. Pray that the Gospel would advance not only in spite of a lack of resources for the persecuted church, but because of their deep love and boldness for Christ and His deep love and comfort for them.