Opening Prayer: May I find strength within my heart, knowing the source is God. Scripture - Deuteronomy 8:3 "He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Introduction: After fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and weakened by hunger, Jesus was humbled. Yet, even in this vulnerable state, he was able to resist the devil's temptation to turn stones into bread. This magic would not only quiet his hunger, it would also prove that he was a man of immense power. But Jesus turned away from his ego to the deep, still voice within and listened. A story he knew by heart rose up within him, giving him strength. This story in scripture revealed God's loving relationship with the Israelites in the wilderness. And Jesus spoke to the devil, making it clear beyond any doubt what was in his heart. "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Pause for Thought: Stories of the heart can open us to God. Preparatory Prayer: May I listen. May I hear the sacred stories within my heart. Labyrinth Walk: Today, as you walk the Labyrinth, look within to the stories you know by heart that lift you up when you are vulnerable just as Jesus's story of the Israelites in the desert lifted him. Open to any stories that come to mind, perhaps scripture, poems, quotes, stories of your loved ones or tales of your ancestors passed down to you. Know that some of these stories are there to guide you when faced with temptation; others to give you strength when faced with troubling emotions like fear or sadness; and still others to inspire you and bring to you an awareness of God's presence in your life.