[CF Devotionals] 2011-03-22 - Forty Days and Forty Nights

The Songs of Lent ~ Part 2

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Mark 1 tells us of Christ's temptations by the Devil, during his 40 days in the desert. Of course Jesus was/is God, and He has that advantage in overcoming temptations. We might be tempted, therefore, to say that we "can't" overcome a bad habit or sin, because we just don't have the strength or the ability. But we have no excuses, because as the song "Forty Days and Forty Nights" (Please see lyrics below.) reminds us, He can "grant that we not faint or fall." First Corinthians 10:13 tells us that no matter the temptation, God can enable us to resist it – whether it's a temptation to lose our temper, cut someone off in traffic when we are in a hurry, copy a copyrighted song onto a CD, `fudge' on our taxes, flirt, puff ourselves up with pride - or whatever happens to be our "achilles heel." Does it mean that the Christian life should be easy? Absolutely not. Christ's life was anything but easy. But is it doable? Absolutely.

The assistance may come via a friend who will hold us accountable, a pastor, an Alcoholics Anonymous group who will help us stay on the "straight and narrow," or from a myriad of sources.

This lovely song also reminds us that God provides angels to aid us. Angels are His ministering servants, and sometimes we don't even realize we are in their presences; as the Bible teaches us, we sometimes "entertain angels unawares."

No matter what we are dealing with, God will provide all the power we need to resist any temptation; all we need to do is ask Him and obey Him.

 Forty Days And Forty Nights

Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day;
Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
Prowling beasts about Thy way;
Stones Thy pillow; earth Thy bed.

Should not we Thy sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with Thee to suffer pain?

Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall!

So shall we have peace divine:
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to Thee.

Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee we may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.

George Hunt Smyttan (1822-1870), 1856

Public Domain

[email jan] Janice P. Moser
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references are from the NASB unless otherwise noted.

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