For the longest time I can remember, I have struggled with staying focused. I would like to think I was an incredibly active child growing up who always wanted to be immersed in everything. With the progression of time, however, I would soon realize that I had fostered and nurtured the habit of starting things and not finishing them because of wanting to dip my fingers in everything. I didn’t realize how that would come to haunt me in my adult years, especially in my early adult years, where I found myself unsettled quite a lot, creating nothing but a pattern of confusion, hopes and dreams deterred, as well as an unsatiable need to quit when things got too “heated” for my liking. Now where are we going with this, you might ask?
Well, allow me to take you back into the wilderness for this, as Jesus is being prepared for His ministry. Remember the story? So, the Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness, where He proceeded to fast for 40 days and 40 nights. After He had finished, He was hungry. Now Satan, being the crafty deceiver he is, decides to take the opportunity to antagonize Jesus. Now, the assumption is that, because Jesus had just finished a long fast, he would be vulnerable, weak, and more malleable to his influence. Satan must have thought that this would just be another ball in the park victory for him.
Matthew 4:5-7 (King James Version) Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy City, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, “It is written again; thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Again? The King James Version points out the word again as Jesus responds to Satan when He is tempted the second time after He was first tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread. Now hear me out. I feel that the word, again, tends to be overlooked a lot of times. I believe there is a reason the author took note that this word be there. I find this whole situationcomical with how Satan tried so much to play with Jesus’ reality and him trying to make Jesus question His identity as the Son of God. But the way this all plays out rings true to the Christian walk of faith always. We are constantly berated by the world and the systems around us in the hopes that the darkness around us could see us fold and denounce our faith.
Now, remember what I said earlier on about me never finishing what I started because I always had a lot going on? The truth is, I got tired of AGAIN. There have been days where I questioned and days where I got tired. There have been days when I felt like giving up altogether. You may have had those days yourself, or perhaps that’s exactly where you find yourself right now. But I hope we remember AGAIN!
Again, pick up your cross (Matthew 16:24-25).
Again, remember your first love (Revelation 2:4).
Again, praise Him until they call you crazy (2 Samuel 6:14-22).
Again, speak the Word of Truth unashamedly.
Again, finish what God told you to start.
Again? Again!
Warfare always surrounds the birthplace of a miracle. Your wilderness is God’s opportunity to let His glory be magnified over and in your life.
Jesus, our Chief Priest Himself, never got tired of speaking the Word of God in the wilderness while He was hungry. I don’t know what your wilderness is, but friend, who are you to give up your eternal birthright over a piece of bread from the wrong source? Hunger always comes after seasons of sacrifice/surrender, but be weary of Satan always wanting to use your hunger as an opportunity to make you stumble. Warfare always surrounds the birthplace of a miracle. Your wilderness is God’s opportunity to let His glory be magnified over and in your life. Remind the devil who is in control when you feel tired and hungry: Adonai! Jehovah Jireh! The great I AM. If we remain in the covering of the Word, there is grace to empower us over our weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
For extra study resources, I recommend you read most of Paul’s letters to the churches in the New Testament. I am grateful for Paul’s letters to the churches because those have been my AGAIN! Most of Paul’s work served to keep the fire and ferventness of the church going. May we not grow weary in pursuit of His love (Galatians 6:9–10).
Be blessed.
𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆: Michelle Mudzengi
𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆: Zimbabwe
This is such a powerful message that I feel like the holy spirit has sent to convict and remind me that he cares about every struggle in my life. I’ve been feeling that I keep finding myself stuck at the pattern of not fishing what I started mostly because of fear. Thank you for reminding to use the work of God again and again when the enemy tries to make me question my identity in Christ
Thank you Father God, for reassuring me that your Grace is sufficient for me and that when I’m weak you become my strength, you strengthen me 🙌🙏.
Thank you Father, for your love that endureth forever 🙌
Thank you so much for always perusing me, for sacrificing your one and only begotten son, so that my sins can be washed away, so that I can have life in abundance, I can be pure and blameless 🙌🙌.
Thank you JESUS, that you had to leave Glory in HEAVEN, come to earth, put in the flesh and die for my sins 🙌🙌😭😭