Remember to PRAY

Luk 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.


Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.


Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

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Forty days and forty nights. There is a significance to forty days and nights that we don't really understand, at least I don't.


Forty days was a period of time allotted for some amazing things. Forty days and nights of rain for the flood. Forty days and nights searching the land. Forty days and nights in the mount, twice. Forty days to repent. Forty days journeying. Then we have the forty years- each day for a year. Forty years wandering. Forty years reigning. Forty days seen before ascending.


Forty days some have determined mean trails, testing.


It seems to be true to some extent, but I suppose it will be one of those mysteries. It's enough to know that this *special* time period was a time used throughout history and it was the same amount of time given to our Savior to begin and complete a SIGNIFICANT testing/tempting period. There was NO way the devil would be allowed to turn around and say that Jesus was NEVER tempted enough, that he hadn't been allowed to tempt Jesus properly. We live our entire lives off and on being tempted- some times more than others and we can probably recall some of the worst tempting occurrences in our lives (that's not to say there aren't many more to come.) The devil wants us, the devil will tempt us until he can tempt no more.


Temptation.


Jesus said--
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.


WATCH and PRAY that ye enter NOT into temptation. WATCH and PRAY. Jesus understood us- that while our spirit is willing NOT to enter into temptation- our flesh nature is very weak. Watching and praying that we don't even ENTER into temptation- let alone giving in to the temptation is a must. We must pray NOT to even be tempted. Jesus faced being tempted, Jesus KNOWS the power of being tempted so it's no wonder that we are to PRAY not to even have to face temptation. Though the devil will do all he can to draw us into temptation, God does have a hand in things. We are protected just as Jesus was protected. However, that protection is lifted for various reasons but that NEVER means God tempts us, never! We still have the ability to PRAY and WATCH when that protection is lifted. Think of the story of Job- the devil was trying to tempt Job to blaspheme God. Job NEVER gave into that temptation. Job lamented being in the situation he was in, but he didn't BLAME God. Think of Jesus, He was led to temptation's door so to speak and was to be immersed in temptation for 40 days and night, and HE did not SIN! Allowed to face temptation, but never left without HOPE, never! Holding onto that hope, holding onto that faith, believing in God, believing in our Savior this is something we always have and is never taken from us, never. When we are facing our worst temptations hope is never taken from us, it is that hope we have to hold onto. The hope that we are redeemed, the hope that we are alive and will always live in our Savior. When we face our worst temptations and even before we are facing them we need to….


...remember… to PRAY.


'Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. '


Jesus told us to pray that way. Pray to not have to face temptation. Pray to be delivered from evil when we are faced with temptation. Pray, pray, pray! If we don't pray to not be lead into temptation we are missing out on something so vitally important it can't even be put into words.


Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness for 40 days and nights was His test, His trial, and the devil had to leave Him after the temptation was over- but only for a season. Jesus was truly tempted in all points just as we are, but we are each tempted in different points - not all. To think we'd ever be able to endure the sort of temptation that Jesus had to endure is foolishness. The devil gave every bit of temptation to Jesus that He was allowed and that was so much more than we as individuals face. When people think that Jesus didn't suffer, that He didn't endure the desire to stop resisting and give in they're wrong. Yes, Jesus was and in and has always been perfect never giving into temptation, never letting lust rule Him, never sinning - this is undeniable. But JESUS our Savior, our Redeemer, our Heavenly Brother, our Mediator, our Advocate walked the walk we walk and felt the things we feel, He became US, He became HUMAN so He could save us- living without sin perfectly relying upon our Heavenly Father. Through His worthiness alone we live, we have hope.


By His Grace may we be kept in Him, and kept from temptation now and always!


In His love!


Amen.