Warriors Arise: July 18, 2023
Matthew 3:16 - 4:1 (NKJV) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
As much as I want to hear God say, "This is My beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased," I hope it doesn't follow with a trip to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I wonder at times why people do not pursue God unabated. Why do we withhold when we know God is inviting us to join Him? Why is there a reservation to take our relationship with God to the next level?
Maybe your relationship with God didn't have those reservation or the attempt to withhold committing to what God was inviting you to be a part of, but I have had to check myself. I have had to evaluate my relationship with God. When there has been a pause before my yes and it wasn't to count the cost, I had to check why. When God has asked, He already counted the cost. He knows what He and I can do together. Why was I not ready and willing when the Lord came and invited me to be a part of what He is doing and what He wants me to do with Him? Deep inside, was I afraid? Was I afraid that being too close to God or being His beloved or having God pleased with me might throw me into a wilderness experience?
I want to be beloved, but let me be completely honest, I do not want to be led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I remember after God worked a miracle and spared Lydia's life, I felt completely rung out. In the celebration of what God had done and her life being restored and declared 100% cancer free, I remember thinking, my physical and emotional strength had been spent. I said a quick prayer, "God, please, I need time with You. I need a reprieve, restored, refreshed. Your strength has carried me for so long. I don't even remember when my strength was spent and Your strength carried me." My strength has run out a long time ago. I wasn't sure I wanted to be His beloved. I didn't want to be chosen to face the enemy in battle any time soon or at all. God truly had been carrying me for a long time.
God gently revealed there are times when He gives us affirmation because we are going to need to know Whose we are and who we are before the enemy comes. He knows when the devil is going to tempt us. He is not surprised. There are many times God comes to affirm us in Whose we are and Who we are because He knows the enemy is about to come and tempt us. We defeat the enemy because we remember we are God's beloved child. We defeat the enemy because we know God created to be the victor and not the victim. Before the devil tempts us God reminds us we are His and He had given us the authority to trample on scorpions!
Father, I come before You. I humble myself to to Your love. Your love will never fail me. When I am spent, You pick me up and carry me. When I am weak You are my strength. When the battle rages around me, You are my strong tower. Your love is amazing. Because of You are faithful and true, I will not be afraid. I will walk with You and follow where You lead for You are with me. I am never alone. I will never fight the enemy without You. You are with me always and I trust You. You lead and I will follow in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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