21st February 2026
Easter Preparation – Led by the Spirit
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)
Journeys of transformation often begin in a place of testing. The wilderness is not a place of punishment. It is a place of preparation. It is where noise fades, distractions fall away, and truth rises to the surface. Easter Preparation reflects this posture of reorienting our hearts to depend on Christ.
After his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There, among the rocks and silence, he faced hunger, loneliness, and temptation. Yet he was not alone. The same Spirit who descended on him in the waters now strengthened him in the desert.
In the wilderness, Jesus was tempted to take control, to prove his power, and to seek glory apart from the Father. But he chose trust over control, obedience over pride, and worship over compromise.
The wilderness became a space where faith was refined and identity affirmed. We, too, are led into wilderness seasons, not to be abandoned, but to be strengthened. In these forty days, we remember that life is not sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. In Christ, our hunger becomes dependence, our struggle becomes formation, and our emptiness becomes space for grace.
As we begin this season of Easter preparation, let’s reflect together:
- Where might the Spirit be leading you into a wilderness of trust and renewal?
- How is God inviting you to rely on his word more deeply in this season?
In every wilderness, God is near. The Spirit who led Jesus now leads us, the word that sustained him now sustains us, and the love that strengthened him now strengthens us.
Prayer
Loving Father, as we walk this path of preparation, may our hearts be renewed, our faith deepened, and our lives anchored in your steadfast love. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
This study is an amended transcript of an equipping video to empower and inspire Grace Communion International congregations around the world to live and share the gospel. It has been produced by the Home Office Team in Charlotte, NC, USA, and was first published in the 6 January 2026 edition of the Equipper publication.
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