Today is Thursday, February 29th.

As I enter prayer now, I slow my body and quiet my mind, setting my whole being in the presence

of the living God who is ever present to me.

Aiming all of my desire at the father who loves to give good gifts to his children,

who sets a table for me in the presence of my enemies, and who

prepares a place for me even now. Oh, Indeed, he who watches over Israel when neither slumber nor sleep. Abba Father, in this Lenten season of prayer and fasting, I remember Jesus in the wilderness now,

fasting for 40 days of testing and temptation.

Jesus resisted lesser appetites out of desire, not duty. Desire for me, to call me

his own and bring me home. Holy Spirit, would you awaken my desire now, the greater

hunger for which I am resisting lesser loves? Would my day begin and my prayer flow from the deep

longing that I'm holding before you this Lenten season? And then. The Psalmist is reflecting on God's faithfulness to his people. The past stories

inform the present hope. God has been faithful, so we trust that he will continue to be faithful.

He is worthy of our trust because he's proven to be trustworthy. As I pray and fast, I create space to reflect on God's

faithfulness to me and the ways he's proven to be trustworthy. Oh, Holy Spirit, would you remind me of the ways God has been faithful to me?

Help me remember how, in my life, you have proven to be trustworthy. Oh, Lord God, is there anywhere in my life that you're inviting me to trust you and remember your faithfulness?

I ask that you would speak to me now. Oh, As I returned to this ancient prayer, I asked that my voice would join with the Saints of old who have worn the narrow path I walk on today,

and that I would, like them, entrust my whole life into your faithful hands today Lord. Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. throughout Throughout the story of the scriptures, God regularly calls his people to remember.

Remembering the ways God has moved in us and around us stirs up faith that he will move again.

And remembering what God has done in the past, I have an opportunity to remain awake to what God is doing in the present.

I pray and fast to keep myself awake, wide awake, and to not allow my soul to fall into a slumber. I resist my

lesser desires, to awake a greater desire, to see him move again, like I remember he does. Oh, Father God, I yield my lesser loves to you today out of a longing to remember you. I want my soul to

stay awake to you today. Oh, Now as I enter this new day, I raise my voice with the praise of Psalm 113.

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