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Time with God - November 5

Jesus was tempted by Satan while fasting in the wilderness, but only after 40 days of hunger and fatigue; understanding this vulnerability can help Christians prepare for similar spiritual battles. By taking care of physical needs like rest and nutrition, believers can strengthen their resolve against temptation and stay focused on their faith.

Sunday, 5 November 2023

Matthew 4:1-4

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Your guard easily drops when you are hungry or tired!

Notice that Satan did not start his temptation of Jesus on Jesus’ first day in the wilderness. No, he waited until Jesus had been fasting for forty days and was hungry. “He was hungry. And the tempter came….”

If you’re fasting for the purpose of prayer and time with God, that’s one thing. But if you’re simply hungry or tired, you are in the danger zone spiritually. It is in those times that our guard drops, and Satan seizes his opportunity to tempt us.

If we are going to stand strong, there are some practical precautions we can take. Something as simple as caring for our body’s needs can keep us alert and can help us avoid having the devil sneak up on us.

One of the most spiritual things you can do in some circumstances is to take a nap or eat something!

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