Once Again: Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Matthew 4:1-11 | Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
DAILY PRAYER REQUEST: Lord, teach me how to listen to you.
DAILY THOUGHT: COMPULSIVE BUSYNESS
One of our biggest obstacles to listening to God is our constant busyness. We fill our days with so much to do, people to see, tasks to accomplish, deadlines to meet and appointments to keep. Even though being busy stresses us out, we find it hard not to be busy. In the midst of our busy lives, Jesus invites us to follow him into the desert. If we don’t take this invitation seriously, we run the risk of missing out on what God may want to say to us. This is why carving out time and space in our busy daily schedules for meeting with God in our “desert space” is so critical. Our “desert space” is our protest against the obstacle of our compulsive busyness. Jesus was led out into the desert to give his full attention to the Father.
DAILY PRACTICE:
Pray your daily prayer request. In the quietness of your “desert space”, look over your usual way of going through the day. What are the main things that make it hard for you to turn up for your daily appointment with God? Talk with God about these things and listen to what God may be saying to you. Are there any ways in which you can reshape your life to curb unnecessary busyness?