Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Matthew 4:1-11 New International Version (NIV)

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.

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Reflect

How often do you attend church? How active are you in your church? How much time do you spend with God every day?

Now, yes everyone may have a different answer and reason. However what stops us from spending time with God on a regular basis. Are we working extra hours at work? Maybe we are sleeping or resting for work. Or maybe we are just enjoying our own personal or family time.

In today’s text, we see Jesus is telling Satan to get thy behind him. You see Satan will try many different tactics to pull you away from worshipping God. Satan will do this slowly having you skip a few days with God at first. Then, before long you will be knocking the dust off your bible. This can happen without you even really knowing it.

That’s why it is important to pray daily for protection against Satan. We must pray that God keeps us focus and close to him. You see because Satan is a very sneaky person, however, you can ask God for strength to fight against Satan. When we spend time with God we gain the strength to tell Satan get thee behind me. So the next time you feel tempted to miss your time with God remember, tell Satan get thee behind me Satan in Jesus’ name.

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Pray

Dear God thank you for your protection from Satan and his tactics. Please grant us the ability to ask for your protection and strength, in our time of needs. Keep us close to you and draw us closer to you daily. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray Amen!

Go with God!