Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Battle in the Wilderness: The Pause that Refreshes (Luke 4:13)

When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13 NASB)

Forty days in the wilderness being led by the Spirit and tempted by the devil finally came to an end. A wonderful thing happened then. The tempter took a break from temptation! Of course, it wasn't a permanent halt to temptation. There was more to come, and just as hard (or harder, as evidenced by the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane), but for a while, Jesus got a break from temptation. Talk about the pause that refreshes!  

Temptations will come our way, and our loved ones will also face temptation. There will be seasons of severe temptation when, without the grace of God, we would surely succumb. Sadly, there will also be seasons of temptation when, even with the grace of God, we succumb to the sin that so easily besets us. As our heart breaks over the choices of loved ones in such trying times, take heart that even the days of temptation are finite. 

Pray today that the times of temptation will be limited, and that they will be brought to a speedy close so that our loved ones can refocus  on our Lord, regain lost faith, and find refreshment for their souls. 

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