Your Test Starts......Now

Jesus was tested.

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Jesus was fasting for 40days, hungry in the wilderness, with no person in sight.

As Christians we are working to become more Christ like, believing in God for our identity and path. As a new Christian, getting back to the groove of things was not so simple. I realized I couldn't and did not desire to want or go back to certain things-I needed to give up those things..surrender it. Drinking, Lusting, Clubbing, Cursing, Music and more. I found that they did not fulfill nor please God. Some behaviors you are currently involved in at times feel like they do serve you-YOLO, right? (spoiler alert you have eternal life) No harm done; the flesh feels satisfied. However, the question I ask is, does this please God? to help me on making faithful decisions in my early walk. I think the saying {did not serve me} is tricky because ultimately, we are servants to God; and serving ourselves can start to cross the line as if we are our own Masters.

As I grew closer to God, I was led to turn my life over to God, not looking for the next person, trend in culture, or things to fulfill me. I had to become hungry for God. Maybe that R&B song isn't inherently "bad" it's not about bad vs good but true desire-clear focus. I had issues with lust and even thou the harmony is good, the message was rooted in lust, longing for another, being consumed by another's love or hurt - does this please God? to be so in love, consumed, with another before God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. I haven't even praised or awoken to the true love of the big3, yet the songs are bonded to either a real person or hypothetical love-it came before God.

2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Jesus was without something, food. We as people need food to survive, we begin to need other things. Shelter, spouses, money, food, cars, clothes, purpose etc. When we know that we are without something, we then will be tempted by something that is not of God.

We or the external factor will try and justify it as your Godly right to have. Maybe even if God told you, "You will get a house." and a clear opportunity comes but soon as you are handed the leasing papers extra charges occur. It comes a time to have great discernment and quite the noise of gifts to see if this is of God or the Devil.

There was a major time where I was tempted by lust (my biggest enemy). I thought this person was cool. The timing was right, and conversation was good. I even went out my way to see this person smh. However, I soon asked God to shake me if this is not it. LITTERALLY A minute later after he texted me on Instagram (had the butterfly's), I saw he was married!! Now we know that's a no no. When I knew the answer was no, my flesh tried so hard to deceive me. I would toss and turn at night; my mind would wonder to fantasies, of what if's. It felt like a month of spiritual warfare with something I knew I wasn't entertaining. It was one of my worst and clearest test/temptations I had. My spirit and mind knew immediately what was happening so my body was attacked.

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands, so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.”

7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.

The devil was in conversation with Jesus, the devil was in conversation with Adam and Eve. As believers and a believer there is a moment of conversation; being face to face with the devil. The devil offers things we are without; so, it is not a scary approach. It is very much a cozy invitation-but don't be fooled because it is only to pull us away from GOD. The devil goes and comes-only to know a little bit of information on you. Your worldly and fleshly ways are in its resume file, keeping track of you. But do not fear for when we make that decision to dwell in the love and teaching of Jesus, when we make the step to obey God, when we listen to the Holy Spirit we will be protected- troubles and mishaps happen because the world is mixed with unforeseeable darkness but with God we can overcome it and the "bad" will be used for our good and for others!

9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Do not fear for I AM is with you. God is there, the all-knowing. The devil holds no real power, however, continue to be firm in the faith in GOD JESUS AND HOLY SPIRIT.

God also gives us test, to show our faithfulness; to build us stronger, walking by faith and not by sight is one of the ultimate tests we can take. As God instructs our path, we must quite the loud noises, demands, hurriedness, and listen to the whisper of God. Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tested, Jesus was firm even in the presence of the enemy, Jesus was promised richesses, the world, backed with twisted words of scripture but Jesus did not entertain it saying Get Outta Here! The devil went away, and Angels came to take care of Jesus.

When I was led to give up certain things that I thought made my identity, made my passions, made my friends like me, I was taught to rely on and serve only God. Not my gifts, friends, culture, passion, love, friends, etc. They served a purpose but for God-it all led me to God and to desire God more to appreciate every detail the good, disappointing, aching moment. Even Jesus was hungry. We must press on even when we are the wilderness and hungry. Once I turned that over to God, I gained a new life! And it is so sweet. I am still learning, surrendering, hungry but with my focus on God it is possible!