Does it seem abrupt to go from “His presence” on day one to “the desert” on day two?
Sometimes our lives can feel just
like that—like
we are on the mountaintops one day, and down in the valley the next. Remember
that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness of
It can be difficult to fast for
just a few days in the luxuries that you and I enjoy today. Think about
it...our homes and workplaces are typically heated and air-conditioned; we have
bathrooms and showers; and, at least this time of year, we generally have
others around us who are participating in the same season of fasting.
For Jesus, however, the
loneliness in the vast emptiness of that harsh, barren desert must have been
brutal. In that time of fasting He found strength to endure. He set the example
in the wilderness for us to follow.
Perhaps there are times in your
life when you feel that brutal loneliness. Hang on! Though Jesus was tempted by
the devil during that time, at the end God dispatched angels to tend to Him.
That fact is precious to me realizing that as we fast, ministering angels are
released and dispatched. We see it throughout the Word of God. When Daniel
fasted and prayed, an angel brought him the answer he sought (Daniel 10). When
Elijah was in the wilderness, an angel came and cooked for him. The writer of
the book of Hebrews calls angels “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will
inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).
As you fast, believe God for
angelic forces to fight on your behalf to protect and watch over you now and
throughout the year.
I know fasting may have been tough for many of you today—for me, it was when I was at the district for new teacher training, and they were serving Panera sandwiches. I was salivating, but somehow God gave me the strength to stick to my salad hahaha. I'm hoping/trusting/believing that there will be super natural strength for me to continue my training for the rest of the week.