Day 16 | Facing the Enemy
Matthew 4:1-2
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry
OBSERVATION
Day three of solitude.
How odd is this story? The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted? The Third Person of the Trinity led our Lord towards temptation? Interesting...
This story can be seen as a reversal of Genesis 3, famously known as “The Fall,” when Adam and Eve fell prey to the serpent’s lies. Adam and Eve fell into temptation, but Jesus rejected temptation. Adam and Eve were deceived by lies; Jesus didn’t believe the lies. After being tested, Jesus emerges back on the scene and begins His public ministry as the Messiah in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Here's why I bring up this story. I love how Practicing the Way put it.
“In the desert, not only do we encounter our self and all our feelings, we also encounter a battle with our enemies — the world, the flesh, and the devil. All three test and tempt our faith in the quiet. Usually this comes, as it did for Jesus, in the form of thoughts that assault our minds — lies, deception, and temptation.”
Solitude, then, can be seen as a place of spiritual warfare. Not just a quiet place for rest, but a battlefield for the soul. Like Jesus, we enter into solitude to combat the lies that so easily derail us from life with God. By the Power of the Spirit, we can overcome anxious thoughts, fears of the future, and shame from our sinful past.
So, the next time you enter into solitude, don’t expect the enemy to show up physically, but don’t be surprised to find him fighting you in your mind. Relax, pray, and win the war in your mind.
APPLICATION
Again, find a quiet place without distractions. Get comfortable. Put your hands out, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. With each breath, focus your mind on God and His love for you. If your mind begins to wander, re-center your thoughts by quietly praying, “Jesus,” or “Come, Holy Spirit.” While you sit in this place for a few minutes, take note of any thoughts or temptations that come to your mind. If they come, write them down and find Scripture to combat them. After you're done, offer gratitude to the Lord.