Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Today, we dey reflect on how desert dey dry. One lesson wey desert dey teach us through this sign na say prayer and fasting no dey always bring di emotional comfort of “rain” wey we fit want. If prayer and fasting dey always bring plenty comfort inside our soul and make us feel satisfied, e for dey easier to quickly accept these practices. But if dem dey always fill our souls with emotional comfort, we go just dey form habit of prayer and fasting only because we wan enjoy all that comfort. We go face strong temptation to dey always look for wetin go make us feel good, instead of God wey sometimes dey make us feel that way.
Many times, when person just dey begin im spiritual life of prayer and fasting, God dey really fill im soul with this spiritual comfort. When baby dey learn to waka, im mama dey hail am and encourage am for every step. As di pikin dey receive this gentle encouragement from im mama, to take another step dey become another thing of joy. But later, once di pikin don learn to waka, im mama no go continue to dey praise am every time e waka.
Na so too, God dey often give you plenty encouragement inside your soul when you take di first step to accept life of prayer and fasting with joy and eagerness. But just as di aim of taking your first steps na to learn how to waka without person dey encourage you every time, na so too di purpose of taking di first step with all your heart to dey pray and do penance na to form habit of living life of sacrifice, wey you fit continue even when you dey experience dryness inside your soul.
If you truly want imitate our Lord, follow Am enter di desert by first forming habit of prayer and fasting. Then continue that new habit, even when you no notice any benefit immediately, like comfort for your feelings or your spirit. Fast and pray for di desert. No fear if dryness dey. When dryness come, let am become reason to give thanks. E be like say God dey tell you, “You don learn to waka; now continue this new spiritual habit without giving up, so you go fulfil My holy will, even for times of dryness.”
Today, reflect on di dryness of di desert as picture of wetin you go surely experience inside your soul. Run go meet am. Allow di Holy Spirit to drive you go there and lead you, so that—with strong heart and without giving up—you fit begin use these new habits of prayer and fasting to better carry out di mission wey God don give you.
My Lord of dryness, You know exactly wetin I need. You know when I need di gentle encouragement wey comfort dey bring, and You know when dryness for my spiritual practices go help strengthen me and make my decision to follow You stronger. Abeg, give me di graces to get strong heart and to no give up for di spiritual practices of prayer and fasting, so that my life go dey more and more like Your own. Jesus, na You I trust.
See also: Reflection Four – 40 Days for di Foot of di Cross