Week 1 - Hunger & Thirst | Day 7

SCRIPTURE - MATTHEW 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not  live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “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.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

OBSERVATION

Jesus models for us the spiritual discipline of fasting. Living fully as a human being, Jesus wasn’t immune to the temptations of His flesh. But He chose to fast so that His spiritual hunger would take priority over His physical hunger. And it was at this moment of physical weakness that the enemy came to tempt Him. Satan tried to appeal to Jesus’ flesh, offering Him comfort, power, and shortcuts. But Jesus resisted every temptation by standing firmly on the truth of Scripture. It was His deep, internalized knowledge of God’s Word that strengthened Him to overpower each temptation. And as we see in verse 11, the enemy eventually had to leave Him. Immediately after this moment, Jesus begins His public ministry. His time of fasting in the wilderness prepared Him for everything the Father had called Him to do. Through this fast, God does the same for us. He prepares us to stand on Scripture, resist the enemy’s temptations, and feed our spiritual hunger throughout the year.

APPLICATION

The enemy often chooses to attack when we feel our weakest. But when we hunger and thirst for the things of God above all else, we can stay spiritually strong even when our bodies feel tired or empty. Jesus’ fast in the wilderness shows us that the way to overcome temptation is by standing on the truth of Scripture. If we want the strength to overpower the desires of our flesh, we have  to spend time in God’s Word until our lives become deeply rooted in it. 

What temptations are pulling you away from spiritual growth right now? Maybe it’s a substance you turn to instead of turning to God. Maybe it’s the temptation to hold tightly to your time or money instead of offering those things to Him. When we take those things to God, He not only removes harmful desires, but He replaces them with a desire for His word and His presence. This year, there are amazing things that God wants to do in and through you. Through this fast, we are actively seeking those things out and allowing God to make them a reality in our lives.

PRAYER

Today, ask God to give you the strength to resist the temptations of the enemy. In the places where you feel weak, ask Him to help you lean on His Word. Pray that as you continue to hunger and thirst for more of Him, He would prepare you for everything He has called you to this year. 

God, thank you for how you’ve already been using this fast to prepare me for all that you have in store for me this year. I ask that my spiritual hunger would overpower my physical desires so that I have the strength to resist every temptation of the enemy. As I continue to hunger and thirst for more of you, help me become deeply rooted in your Word. Amen.

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