Decisive Moments
Monday, September 11
Luke 4:4-8 NKJV
But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
Devotion
In a pivotal moment in time, Jesus made a decision that brought promise to all our futures! His decision wasn’t just to not take Satan's grand offer, but it was a decision to stay the course that would lead to the cross!
Jesus was ready for the temptation that presented itself. That moment in time was preceded by prayer and fasting. He made a quick defense with the sword of the spirit - the very word of God. Will you be ready for the next decisive moment that presents itself to you? The kind of moment that will determine whether you will have victory over temptation, or whether sin will rule you? The kind of moment that can decide your destiny and affect the future of those close to you. Here’s a challenge for you Church, the 5 B’s: Be diligent! Be on guard! Be in prayer! Be in the word! Be ready!
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
From the bottom of my heart, I want my life to honor You. I ask that You help me become like Jesus. When I am faced with decisive moments, please help me to use Your Word and lean into You in prayer just as Jesus did, that I too, might overcome the schemes of the devil as he tries to put a distance between us. I commit to You and give You all praise and glory. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Facing challenges in our walk with God is not a sin, it’s our response that determines the outcome giving in or coming out victoriously. Determine today that you will not live a weak Christian life, but rather you will follow the example of Jesus as you study and learn from His word and go to Him in fervent prayer. Follow Jesus’ example and stand strong against the evil one.
Resources:
- Allow this message to encourage you in your prayer life - "Prayer Is The Priority."
- To learn more about how Jesus overcame temptation, read and glean from Matthew 4: 1-11