Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoi via Wikimedia Commons
We give you thanks – yes, more than thanks, O Lord our God,
for all your goodness at all times and in all places,
because you have shielded, rescued, helped, and guided us
all the days of our lives and brought us to this hour.
We pray and beg of you, merciful God, to grant in your goodness
that we may spend this day and all the days of our lives
without sin, in fullness of joy, holiness and reverence of you.
But drive away from us, O Lord, all envy, all fear and all temptations.
Bestow on us what is good and fitting.
Whatever sin we commit in thought, word or deed,
be pleased to pardon out of your goodness and mercy.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Through the grace, mercy and love of your only-begotten Son.
Amen.
Liturgy of St. Mark, worship text used in the early Egyptian church
Ancient Christian Devotional Lectionary Cycle C freely modified
________________________
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.
prayer & verse 
