Having the desire for God to always guide us in all our plans and deeds by His Holy Spirit is a wonderful dream. As believers, we understand that God does not wish us harm. His intentions are for good, for the future, and for hope. Even when there is darkness around us, as during massive attacks on the power system, when we were left without light, water, or heat for weeks in bitter cold, God’s plans are aimed at lifting us out of depression and giving us joy. However, are we ready for where exactly the Spirit can lead us? We often expect comfort, but today’s story is about leading us into the wilderness.
“Then the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” From Matthew 4:1-2
The Holy Spirit can take us to a place where we do not want to be at all. Jesus had just begun his ministry, the first disciples had joined him, and suddenly there was complete isolation. There were no people in the desert, no ministry, not even ordinary food.
On the fortieth day: When strength runs out
Pastor Alexander shared a personal experience: “This week I got sick with a bad flu. There were days when I could not get out of bed at all, feeling like a “walking dead man.” In this state, you pray, but instead of feeling God’s presence or strength, you often feel only exhaustion and “hunger” — both physical and spiritual.”
It is when you are most vulnerable that the tempter comes. He did not come on the first day, when Jesus was full of strength. He waited until the very end of the fortieth day.
Where are you in this story now?
Day One: You are full of hope that fasting and prayer will quickly solve all your problems.
Midway: You are tired, but you are still holding on.
Day Fortieth: You have done all you can, but there is no answer. Instead, you hear the voice of the tempter: “If you are a child of God, where is the result? Where is your healing?”
1. Stone: Temporary Need vs. Eternal Word
The first temptation is the offer to turn stones into bread. The devil says, “Don’t wait for God, solve the problem yourself right now.” Jesus could have done it, but it would have meant gaining a local victory at the cost of losing the great war.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities… and by his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
We often forget that Christ himself suffered pain and sickness so that by his stripes we might be healed. The first truth of victory: respond to all temptations only with God’s Word—“It is written!”
2. Scissors: A Trap of Manipulation
The name “scissors” is an allegory for the game of “tsu-ye-fa.” The devil puts Jesus in a stretch situation: he quotes the Bible, but takes it out of context. He says, “If you believe the Word, jump. If you don’t jump, then you don’t believe.”
This is the most dangerous moment for making decisions. Many people leave their ministry, church, or family precisely in the midst of temptation, at the height of emotional exhaustion.
Second Truth: Decisions should be made AFTER the temptation passes, not during it.
3. Authority: Whom do we bow to?
The third temptation is the promise of quick power over the world. The devil offers a way without the cross if only Jesus would bow to him. But the power of the world is often illusory and built on lies.
Illustration about democracy: During a storm, Trump, putin, and Lukashenko found themselves in the same boat. To decide who would row, Lukashenko proposed a “democratic vote.” As a result, he announced that the majority voted for him. Trump was surprised: “How is that? There are three of us in the boat, and four voted for you!”
This anecdote reminds us that “it’s not how you vote that matters, but how you count.” The world offers false power, but true victory comes when we choose to serve only God. Then angels come and serve us.
Conclusion and Prayer
To overcome, you don’t always need a 40-day fast. You just need to hold on to God. Angels often come in the form of people: a wife who cares during illness, or friends who help with children.
Don’t make decisions based on the thoughts that are spinning in your head during trials. Wait until the evening of the fortieth day. Your angels are already on their way.
Prayer: Lord, bless everyone who is currently going through their desert. Give us the strength not to give up, but to stand on Your Word. We believe that by Your wounds we are healed and in You we have complete victory. Amen!.
In 2 Timothy we find Paul writing a letter to Timothy, his missionary companion. Many Bible scholars believe that this was the last letter Paul wrote before his death and that he wrote it from a Roman prison cell. Reflecting on his life and believing that his death was imminent, Paul wrote this striking passage:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7
Faithful.
Paul was faithful to God, and God was faithful to Paul without end. Shipwrecked. Stoned. Abandoned by friends. Imprisoned. The list of things Paul endured could go on and on. But he persevered. He remained steadfast in his commitment to Christ.
When you think about your life, what do you want to say at the end? What will you see when you look back?
In Paul we see an example of what it means to hold on to faith in Christ. He knew what it means to depend on God for everything. He drew strength from God because without Him he could not do it.
In our lives we face moments of doubt and disappointment. Let us hold on to the truth of God’s Word, knowing that He is faithful and will never forsake us. May it be said of us at the end of our lives that we too have fought a good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.
Philippians 4:13 is a popular Bible verse that you may have seen on signs, social media, stickers, or cars. You may have heard someone recite this verse before a sporting event or while attempting a difficult task.
Unfortunately, this verse is often misunderstood. This verse does not say that we can achieve anything we want. Paul is not talking about winning a sports game or having the courage to do something bold.
Instead, Paul actually talks about his time in prison. He refers to the power of God that was with him during this difficult time of service.
In Philippians 4:12 he talks about the strength he has to live contentedly in any situation in life. He learned to live in abundance and without anything. It has learned to live with very little food and resources as well as with a lot of food and resources.
Paul found that despite his circumstances, God continued to give him strength to do God’s work. He never lacked strength and resources to tell others about the good news of Jesus, even when he was in prison.
Paul could live at any time of his life and achieve all that God asked of him because of the strength that God gave him.
So, instead of God giving us the power to do whatever we want, He gives us the power we need to endure various circumstances and accomplish the mission He has given us. This means you will never lack resources to live a growing and godly life or to share the good news of Jesus with others.
Whether you are going through a season of abundance or a season of scarcity, remember that God is the one who gives you the strength to endure each season. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, ask God to give you the strength that only He can give.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Bible is that it is just another book.
In fact, many Christians treat Scripture as if it were simply a collection of ancient letters and books that inform us about God and religious matters.
While the Bible is undoubtedly a collection of ancient documents, it is also much more than that. This is the very word of God. The Bible is inspired by God, which means that He spoke through men to create these letters and books.
Moreover, God’s Word is alive and active. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to speak to us even today. This is what distinguishes the Holy Scriptures from any other book.
James tells us in James 1:22-24 that the power of Scripture comes not only from hearing it, but also from living it.
The Scriptures have the power to radically change the way we live, but we must make the effort to first read them and then do what they say.
James says that anyone who reads the Holy Scriptures and does not walk in God’s way is only deceiving himself. We think we follow God by simply reading His Word, but God wants us to live out the truths of Scripture in our own lives.
This is what it means to walk God’s way, not your own.
Take a moment to consider a few ways you can begin to live according to the truths of Scripture. Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal to you an area of your life to change with His Word. And then decide not just to listen to God’s Word, but to do what He says as you follow Him.
All over the world, people want change. We tend to let go of old habits and ways of thinking when they no longer serve us. It is for this reason that there are thousands of self-help books, podcasts, articles, and various media outlets. We want to change! And yet it may seem impossible! Paul, one of Jesus’ disciples, shares this powerful truth in Romans 12:2:
Do not submit to this world. Rather, let your mind be changed and renewed, so that you can know and accept the will of God, so that you can understand what is good, perfect and pleasing to God.
Transformed by the renewal of our minds. What does this mean?
Transformation is large-scale change. She is thorough. finished Perfect difference. Just as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, transformation brings the end of the old and the beginning of the new.
Paul shows us that transformation is not a work that we do from the outside in. Transformation happens from the inside out. Everything starts with our mind. And in order for our minds to change, we need Truth to lean on.
The Word of God is this Truth.
“All Scripture is inspired…” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is able to separate the soul from the spirit, and to judge the most secret thoughts and intentions. It penetrates to the joints, to the marrow of the bones.” Hebrews 4:12
“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word spoken by the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
God’s Word guides us when we are lost, strengthens us when we are weary, challenges us when we compromise, and encourages us when we are down. God’s Word changes everything.
And at this moment you hold the Word of God in your hand. The transformation is in your hands. Read the Bible carefully, delve into its verses, struggle with its teachings, and appreciate what you discover about the love and grace of God.
The best place to quench your thirst for newness is God and His Word. God’s Word renews our minds. The transformation from the inside out starts here.
Your faithfulness is great! — Lamentations 3:23 Entering the church hall, where the music was solemnly playing, I looked around to see the people who had gathered for the evening service dedicated to the meeting of the New Year. I remembered the events of the past year, and my heart was filled with joy and hope. We grieved together over lost children, the death of loved ones, the loss of some jobs, and broken relationships. But at the same time, we came to know God’s grace. We also celebrated victories, weddings, successful graduations from educational institutions, baptisms, through which new members were added to our church family. We also rejoiced at the birth of babies, the adoption of children and the consecration of young children to the Lord. And many other things were wonderful and comforting.
Reflecting on the history of our church, I, like Jeremiah, although I remembered “trouble and torment” (Lamentations 3:19), firmly believed that “it is the Lord’s mercy that we did not perish, because His mercy did not end” (Lamentations 3:22). The prophet relied on God’s faithfulness in the past: “The Lord is good to those who hope in Him, to the soul that seeks Him!” (Lamentations 3:25).
That evening, every person in the meeting was a visible proof of how God’s love transforms us. And whatever befalls us in the coming year, we can firmly rely on the Lord and strengthen our hope through memories of God’s unchanging character.
Lord, thank you for using our past to strengthen our confidence that our hope is guaranteed by your eternal faithfulness. As we look into the new year, let’s not forget that God has always been and will be faithful. Author: Sosheel Dixon
A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but with a sad heart, the spirit is stunned. — Proverbs 15:13 After loading my car with groceries, I carefully pulled out of the parking lot. Suddenly, a man, not noticing me, rushed over the side of the road almost under the wheels of the car. I braked sharply. The frightened man looked up and met my gaze. At that moment, I realized that I was faced with a choice: either to stare angrily out of irritation, or to forgive and smile. I smiled.
The man’s face showed relief: his lips also formed a faint smile of gratitude.
In the Book of Proverbs it is written: “A joyful heart makes the face happy, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is stunned” (Prov. 15:13). Does the author encourage us to smile in every situation? Of course not! There are moments of sincere crying, despair and even anger. But in most moments of daily life, a smile can bring relief, hope, and grace that we will never stop needing.
Perhaps the main idea of this parable is to show us that our smile is usually a natural reflection of the state of our inner being. A “joyful heart” always has peace, contentment and belongs to God, who always cares about the best for us. With a heart full of deep happiness, we can respond to unpleasant surprises with a sincere smile, thereby inviting others to the hope and peace that they too can know in the Lord.
Dear Father, make my heart happy so that when I meet different people today, I can share with them the hope that only You can offer. “Therefore comfort one another, and build one another up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Author: Eliza Morgan
And he himself will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah… to equip ready people for the Lord. — Luke 1:17 During the period of the end of the Old Testament times, it seemed as if God was going to hide himself from the people. For four centuries, the Jews believed that God had become indifferent and deaf to their prayers. One hope remained: the coming of the Messiah promised by the prophets. The Jews placed all their hopes on this promise. And suddenly something very important happened: the Angels announced the birth of the Baby.
You can feel the overwhelming joy as you read in Luke’s Gospel about the people’s reactions to this news. The events surrounding the birth of Jesus resemble an extremely positive musical. Various characters fill the scene: a gray-haired priest (Lk. 1:5-25), a stunned virgin (Lk. 1:26-38), an aged prophetess Anna (Lk. 2:36). Mary herself could not refrain from glorifying God with a beautiful hymn of praise (Lk. 1:46-55). Even the unborn John the Baptist began to fight for joy in his mother’s womb (Lk. 1:41).
Luke was careful to point out the direct connection between the birth of Jesus and the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. The angel Gabriel even called John the Baptist “Elijah”, who was sent to prepare the way for the Lord (Lk. 1:17). Indeed, something great and incredible was about to happen on planet Earth. Something bright and joyful happened in a distant corner of the Roman Empire among the sad enslaved peasants.
You have come – and we are happy! Jesus, you are our gift of redemption and hope. We thank you. “One day in our world, in a poor manger, the One who is greater than the whole world appeared.” — K. Lewis, from the book “The Last Battle” Author: pbrown-paul
Relationships can break up, a dream can suddenly fade away. A heart can break for a million different reasons: grief, rejection, loneliness, uncertainty, tragedy, betrayal.
When something terrible happens and the world loses its meaning…
The Lord is with people whose hearts are broken, He gives salvation to the despairing. Psalm 34:19
David, the author of Psalm 34, preached what he experienced himself. He experienced both extraordinary highs and brutal lows, but he recognized the presence of God in the midst of his circumstances. He knew that God is near and that God can change any situation in an instant.
Is your heart broken? Is your spirit depressed?
God is near. He did not leave you to struggle alone. He sees your broken heart. He meets you where you are. He has not forgotten you. He has not left you.
This does not mean that you will not face difficulties. But even when your mind is in turmoil and your heart is doubting, God offers a peace and closeness that cannot be fully explained.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have constant access to God’s presence through His Holy Spirit. There are many places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit is described as the Comforter, ready to comfort, guide, counsel, and encourage.
The comfort we receive from God is a gift of His Spirit who is always with us. So if your heart is broken and your spirit is down, know that you are in good hands. God is near and He will not leave you.
Trials and difficulties are a part of life, but God has the final say.
Right now, take a few minutes to name everything that has broken your spirit. Then allow yourself to simply be in God’s presence for a few minutes. When you are ready, memorize today’s verse and meditate on it throughout the day.
Due to an injury in 1992, I often suffer from chronic pain in my shoulders and neck. When pains are very strong, it is not always easy to trust the Lord and praise Him. But when I’m really struggling, God’s constant presence comforts me. The Lord strengthens me and assures me of His unchanging love, boundless power and grace that sustains us. At times like these, I am encouraged by the resolute faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They worshiped God and believed that He was with them, even in a situation that seemed hopeless.
When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw these three young men into the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:13-15) if they did not worship his golden image, they answered him with great courage and faith. They did not doubt that the Lord deserves to be worshiped (Dan. 3:17) – even if He does not save them from a fierce death (Dan. 3:18). And God did not leave them alone at the time of the cruel test: He joined them in the furnace and protected them from the fire (Dan. 3:24-25).
The Lord will never leave us alone. He remains with us in times of trial that may seem as threatening as Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. Even if our suffering does not end on this side of eternity, the Lord will always remain powerful, kind – the One who deserves our trust.
Lord, we thank You that You are always with us, no matter what happens to us. Faith is trusting in the unchanging character of almighty God, not in circumstances. Author: Sosheel Dixon
