Prayer in Temptation i
Matthew 4:1-11 (CEV)
Jesus and the Devil
4 The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. 2 After Jesus had gone without eating for forty days and nights, he was very hungry. 3 Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God’s Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say:
‘No one can live only on food.
People need every word
that God has spoken.’”
5 Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. 6 The devil said, “If you are God’s Son, jump off. The Scriptures say:
‘God will give his angels
orders about you.
They will catch you
in their arms,
and you won’t hurt
your feet on the stones.’”
7 Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don’t try to test the Lord your God!’”
8 Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. 9 The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:
‘Worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.
Alone,
with God,
with myself,
with my demons.
Faced with the stark realities
of my life.
Where do I put my trust,
where do I look for nourishment.
where do I seek validation?
Do I try to live without God?
Filling my life with stuff
that fails to satisfy?
Do I think I can look after myself?
Or trust God to rescue me
when I have got myself into a mess?
Or do I seek him first,
before I jump?
Do I want to test God?
To see how far I can push him?
how far I can go?
Do I put my trust
in the wrong things?
Am I distracted by shiny,
and lose my focus on God?
Lord,
this lent,
I want to walk with these questions,
to come again
to you.
Deepen my trust,
my faith,
my worship,
my service,
I pray
Pam's Perambulation 