Have you ever been in the desert for a while and you know how the thirst that you develop seems overwhelming? Like you'd do anything to quench that thirst... you get to a point where you'd almost drink anything to be rid of the parched lips and pain that begins to make your head throb? Well, I've been in the desert, so to speak for a little while now. And I've searched for the relief of the pain that seemed to grab my physical body and not let go. As I walked through this dry and barren place I remembered how Jesus walked through the same place of temptation. With the physical need for food, His body ached and desired what would bring him relief but He right away recognized what was happening... the devil had come to him to tempt him. The evil one said to Jesus "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." When we are in this place of temptation doesn't the devil kinda put the same idea in our minds? "If you are a child of God, won't He take away your pain?"
And just as Jesus confronted the tempter "'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" We have to KNOW the word of God so we can stand strong when the temptation comes.
The second temptation of the devil directed to Jesus was "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.' Ever been in the spiritual desert and the devil tries to twist scripture that you know? He wants you to doubt. Jesus replied to the tempter again with "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Jesus used scripture to battle the devil. We need to know the scripture so when we are faced with temptation we can stand strong. And be able to call the temptation for what it is.... just that. "Get behind me satan!".
The final temptation in the desert was when the devil approached Jesus with "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." For me, this last journey through the desert was a journey through physical pain. And the tempter is no respecter of persons and he came to me and put this temptation to me in this manner... "I will take your pain away if you will just bow down and NOT ACKNOWLEDGE God in this..." you see, he knows I will NEVER worship him, so he trys to tempt me to lead others away from the Truth. He hates it when we exalt God and give him the praise and glory for the work he does for us. And just as Jesus looked the devil right in the eye "Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" And those were my words as the pain became more intense.
I love that Matthew didn't leave the story there. But in the final verse of this passage he says "11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." After my time in this desert God sent me special sisters in Christ who ministered to me. Building me up with prayers of faith and healing. I'm so very thankful for those words and thoughts of love. For those of you who stood in the gap for me, THANK YOU!!! God is so very good. And just as the devil left Jesus, my pain is now gone, too. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!! Praise God for all His Grace & Love!!! I stand in triumph over the one who wants to steal, destroy, and conquer the Joy Of The Lord. And out of my time in the desert a flower blooms. And as always... God has blessed with this video. :)
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