Holiday and Life Stress No More

I feel weak, worn out, and yes, discouraged. And, as only my Heavenly Father could do, He brought me back to this post I wrote a couple of years ago. I had completely forgotten I had ever written this. What a sweet Savior, who not only knows our weaknesses, but also delights in standing with us in all of the ups and downs of our daily lives and routines. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but thankfully, the Jesus I read about here in this passage really is the One who holds my future. And in that reality, I find tremendous hope. I feel my spirit lifting.

Luke 4 (The Message)"Tested by the Devil^1-2Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry.
³The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: "Since you're God's Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread."
⁴Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to really live."
^5-7For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, "They're yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I'm in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they're yours, the whole works."
⁸Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."
^9-11For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, "If you are God's Son, jump. It's written, isn't it, that 'he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone'?"
¹²"Yes," said Jesus, "and it's also written, 'Don't you dare tempt the Lord your God.'"
¹³That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.
¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit..."

As I read this, several things came to my mind. For one, Jesus was in the will of God and full of the Spirit of God when the temptation/time of testing came. He prepared for it by humbling Himself through fasting, but He was physically drained (weak with hunger) when the enemy's tactics got intense. Remember, He was being tempted the entire 40 days, but when the enemy saw he wasn't getting anywhere, he upped the ante.

~You can be physically weak, and spiritually strong, and the enemy will come against you in any area of weakness he can find. And he will find it.

~He started with something that seemed logical, "You're hungry? You're God? Prove it. Make yourself something to eat." He loves to hit us in the area of our identity. He tries to get us to accept the lesser things rather than the greatest things God has for us. Jesus knew this, so He didn't give in to His temporary needs in sacrifice of the eternal rewards.

~The next temptations grew in intensity and yet Jesus continued to choose with His will to trust in the Word of God rather than even give the enemy an inch. He didn't contemplate what the enemy was offering. Don't play around with temptation or the lies of the enemy. Know who you are and whose you are by spending quality time in God's Word. (Romans 12:1-2)

The biggest thing that hit me between the eyes, though, was the last verse above. Often when we read this account, we stop where it says that Satan left until a more opportune time; and we need to be mindful that he will return for more. But we need not miss the verse that follows: "Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit." Where Jesus was full of the Spirit when He entered the time of testing, He left that time POWERFUL in the Spirit! He didn't lose one single thing during that time (except a few pounds). He GAINED! He gained power from the Spirit that already filled Him!

I have been asking God more and more to fill me with His Holy Spirit; that I would be led by Him and not my own wisdom or understanding. And in His merciful and gentle way, He has done so. But I can't even describe sufficiently how much it means to me that He showed me that as I move through a time of testing and difficulty, that I can look forward to coming out of that time POWERFUL in the Spirit! I need not fear, I need to take courage that there is something waiting on the other side of the wilderness experiences I go through from time to time and remember that there is something powerful awaiting.

If you're going through a challenging time and feel tested to your very limits, take courage my friend. If you know Christ and if His Spirit lives in you, then POWER awaits you! Don't give in to the temptation, however logical and practical it may seem. God has something greater than anything you could come up with in your own power and He is preparing you through this season for that very thing He has prepared for you!

Abide in His Word. Be a doer and not a hearer only. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of the Almighty God. There will be a better day!