In the Desert...

Have you ever noticed that the very first way Satan tries to subvert your Christian walk is by attacking your identity as a child of God? These attempts can be frightening and unsettling but only if you let them be...we must always remember we're in good company:
Matthew 3:16 - 4:10
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 4
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “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.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again,the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."

Even the greatest and best known church leaders have struggled. We all have our time in the desert. As mentioned in the verses above, Jesus had been 40 days in the wilderness...his earthly body was suffering from hunger and fatigue and up pops Satan to take some of his best shots. Even though Jesus had recently heard a voice from heaven proclaiming..."This is my beloved Son...", Satan says "If you are the Son of God...". He was trying to make Jesus doubt...but our Lord and Savior would have none of it. He stood firm against His adversary and showed us the way to combat doubt and fear.

The next time life, the world or Satan start wearing you down, remember that you do have a purpose on this earth. Stand firm, as Jesus did, and "tell" whatever is hoping to force you to deny God's Grace and mercy that..."I HAVE been baptized...I HAVE been marked by Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit. You have NO authority here!"