Who Are You Listening To?

 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God…”           Luke 4:1-3

            The devil waited until the end of Jesus' forty day fast, when He was weak and hungry. Then he came to tempt and challenge Jesus.  

            It is in times of testing, or crisis; in periods of desperation and desolation; it is when we are facing disappointment or transition; when we are at our weakest, our emptiest, at the end of our rope, or have come to a blind curve in the road of our life and have no idea what lies ahead; that is when the enemy comes to prey on our self-identity, to challenge the nature of our calling, or to tempt us with false promises.

“If you are…” he chides.

“If you were really loved, then these things wouldn’t be happening.”

“If you really believed you wouldn’t have fear or doubt.”

“ Who are you really? Prove it!”

In our times of stress, that inner voice of doubt challenges what we profess to be true about our most inward, secret self.  It is in these times that we must be oh so careful to whom we are listening.

Let’s Do Something About It

·      If you are at a crisis or transitional point in your life right now, schedule significant periods of time for prayer and fasting to help you identify and rely on God’s voice, direction, and provision for you at this time. Consider getting a prayer partner for this season to help you discern God’s presence in your life.

·      If you are questioning the nature of your calling or the direction of your life, consider spending time with a trusted friend or confidante to help you discern the path you are on and to partner with you in prayer.

·      If you are on firm ground right now, spend some time journaling or recording the nature of your calling and the affirmation and confirmations that God has given you, so that, when a time of questioning arises, you have a record of God’s directive.