Daily Devotional

Those Who Mourn

Sharon Miner — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Those Who Mourn
Words of Faith 10-13-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 5
[4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The repentant heart is first of all founded in spiritual poverty. That is, we begin Kingdom living the moment we realize we have nothing to offer God and He has everything to offer us.

In this moment, we set aside our flimsy idea of cutting a deal with God because we realize we have nothing to deal with. In our spiritual poverty, we set aside our achievements and religious presumptions and realize that the only deal to be cut with God has already been cut and paid in full by Him.

Such a heart is given to mourn. In our spiritual poverty, as God works repentance in us, we discover how grievous our sin is to God's heart. Only when we feel God's grief do we find the victory not to return to our sin.

When we see how our sin hurts people, we are finally drawn away from it. We mourn the loss of innocence, but at the same time we are comforted. The Holy Spirit of God convicts us but, in the same overwhelming moment, comforts us. This is the nature of His counsel.

Another part of this mourning is this. The Spirit works sensitivity in us by revealing His heart. It is doubtful we could ever bear to grasp all of God's heart. His compassion for the world's suffering through the ages, which led to Jesus' suffering on the cross, would be more than we could bear. But the Lord does reveal glimpses.

God will give us a glimpse of His heart for a particular person or situation. He will give us a revelatory moment of His heart for a people or historic injustice. He will cause us to mourn with those for whom He mourns. He will cause us to grieve for those He grieves for.

A repentant heart is a tender heart. Jesus had compassion for the crowds because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus wept for the loss of His dear friend Lazarus and for that family. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He thought about the destruction that was to come to them. The repentant life which turns toward God as the Kingdom nears will have tears of joy and suffering mixed.

We tend to resist God's work in our lives. We prefer to insulate ourselves from pain. We prefer to tune out suffering. We love the joy of the Lord, which is our strength, but we often fail to mourn with God the tragic pain of a lost world.

Lord, touch me gently with Your heart. Give me a glimpse so that I may mourn with You the things that break Your heart in my own life and in the world. Make my heart repentant and tender toward You and those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.

Poor in Spirit

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Poor in Spirit
Words of Faith 10-9-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 5
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, [2] and he began to teach them, saying: [3] "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus sat down as was the custom for rabbinical teaching. A person stood to read the Torah but sat down to teach.

So what are these verses about? They do not really teach the way of salvation. They also are not a sort of constitution for the Kingdom of God. So what are they? Since Jesus preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17), these now-famous phrases probably describe the repentant lifestyle of someone who has turned toward God. What is it like to turn toward God because the Kingdom is near? This is it.

The answer begins with beatitudes. So just what is a beatitude? The word means blessed, happy, or fortunate. This phrasing was not uncommon in Jewish teaching. Jesus describes the surprising ways in which the genuine blessing of the Kingdom of God is found.

The prevailing thought of the day was that Messiah would come in mighty power to crush the oppressors of Rome and set the people of God free. But Jesus described a different kind of power that begins in poverty.

To be poor in spirit is to recognize our spiritual poverty before the holy God. When we are poor in spirit, we renounce any claim to merit before God or self-dependence. We confess our utter need before God.

Paul described spiritual poverty this way: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10‑12).

Our journey with God always begins in spiritual poverty. As long as we are convinced, even in the slightest way, that we can justify ourselves before God, we have not truly begun the journey. As long as we defend ourselves and our self-righteousness, we have not taken the first step toward the Kingdom.

Our happiest and most blessed moment is the one in which we stop rationalizing and arguing with God and squarely face our utter lostness and sinfulness. You may call this a moment of truth, hitting bottom, or coming to our senses, as in the prodigal son. Whatever the case, we are never close to God until we come to this place.

Are you poor in spirit? Have you realized your complete dependence upon God and His mercy for your eternal and daily life? Have you confessed before Him that you are wholly unable even to approach Him?

Lord, God Almighty. There is not one righteous, not even one; there is not one who understands, not one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have become worthless together; no one does good, not even one, especially not me. I come to You in spiritual poverty. May I find blessing and peace in all that You provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Impact

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Impact
Words of Faith 10-8-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [24] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. [25] Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Much of Jesus' ministry is not documented. Many healings, teachings, and miracles are not recorded in any of the Gospels. Jesus did not minister only in Capernaum, about which we hear a great deal. He went throughout Galilee, the large region to the north and west of the Sea of Galilee. It is the land of Zebulun and Naphtali spoken of in Scripture. Jesus went throughout that large region, and people came from all around to see and hear Him. If John had been a big deal, Jesus was even bigger. They came from the ten Roman Decapolis cities, which were all east of the Jordan River except for one. They came all the way from Jerusalem and Judea in the south to see Jesus and to bring their broken lives to Him.

The impact of Jesus upon people cannot be overestimated. Jesus healed various diseases. He eased severe pain. He healed the demon-possessed and those with severe seizures. Even the paralyzed were healed. He does the same today. Jesus heals our various diseases of the spirit, soul, and body. He eases the worst of our pain. He drives out the demons that make life unclean. He relieves what seizes us. He gives movement where once we were paralyzed.

Have you allowed Jesus to impact your life? People came from all around to get to Him. They walked for days to hear a few words and be touched by Him. We do not have to search nearly so far.

Lord, come and bring healing to my life. I am ready to hear Your Good News. Ease the pain. Make me clean. Relieve my paralysis that I may walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Call

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Call
Words of Faith 10-7-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." [20] At once they left their nets and followed him.
[21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus calls people from what is common to what is uncommon. He transforms the unique skills of life for the Kingdom of God. He takes the patterns of life that are sometimes mundane and makes every moment count for eternity. If the men Jesus chose to call had been farmers, he would have called them to be "harvesters of men". If computer programmers, he might have called them to be "software designers of men". If a shopkeeper, "merchants of men". God called a tentmaker named Saul to build the church and be a "tentmaker for Christ". The point is that Jesus takes whatever work we do with our hands and minds and transforms that into a work of the heart and spirit. This is the life of a disciple.

A disciple is someone whose life has been redirected for the Kingdom of God in response to Jesus' call.

Does this mean that all disciples quit their jobs to preach and teach about the countryside? Not at all. In fact, many disciples probably followed Jesus as the seasons of harvest allowed them to come and go from the entourage. The Apostle Paul is a good example of one called to follow Christ, build the church, and still engage in his secular work. In fact, some of Paul’s most successful endeavors occurred when he was in secular employment in Corinth.

The question is this: Have you answered the call of Christ? It starts when we receive His free offer of grace and salvation, but He wants to do much more in our lives than save us for eternity. He invites us to be transformed. He offers to take whatever we are and make it into a ministry for His Kingdom. He offers to use the unique skills, gifts, passions, and joys of your life to make eternal differences. Whether you are a hot dog vendor, maintenance worker, professional, businessperson, artist, student, technical worker, craftsman, homemaker, government worker, or retired, the Lord Jesus calls you to a life of transformed discipleship-- redirected for the Kingdom of God and making eternal differences.

Lord, I want to respond to Your call upon my life. I offer to You all that I am and all that I have. Transform the work of my hands and mind into a work directed by Your mind and heart. I want to be a disciple. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Message

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Message
Words of Faith 10-6-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[17] From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

The message that Jesus preached at the beginning was so very simple. Repent-- turn toward God. Change the direction of your life and go toward God. Why? Because the Kingdom of heaven is near.

In the reverent tradition of Judaism, Matthew uses the word "heaven" as a substitute for the name of God in much the same way that many Jews today will write the name of the Lord as G-d. But don’t miss the point. This is not a Kingdom far away in heaven. Jesus was announcing an intrusion very close to home.

But what does this mean? The Kingdom, or the rule of God, is near. The rule of God is breaking into human existence. What the rule of God looks like will be the topic of many future teachings. The one thing we know for sure at this point is that the correct response to this announcement is repentance. There is no time to delay. It is time to get right with God, whatever it takes.

Repentance is something we do, and something God does in us. We must turn toward God, but the deep wrenching change in our life that is characterized by repentance is not something we muster up. Repentance is more than simply feeling sorry for our sin. It is a deep grief that touches our spirit and causes us to turn away from our sin. We can approach this grief only when we discover the heart of God and how deeply our sin offends and hurts Him. As Christians on this side of the Calvary, we are powerfully moved when we face the cross and the immense price paid for our sin. But repentance has to begin with grasping the cost of sin to our relationship with God.

Someone once said that true repentance abhors gentle names for sin. Repentance is the place where God’s rule casts aside our excuses and rationalizations. Facing the Kingdom of God, we confront God's absolute judgment and His absolute grace! We discover both how wicked we are as fallen creatures and at the same time how merciful our Father is. So, facing His Kingdom, there is no room to soft-pedal our sin with sophisticated terminology.

Repentance is something we must participate in, but it is not really something we do. It is not an emotional "work" that convinces God to forgive us. Rather, repentance is an emotional work He does in us as we respond to His free offer of salvation. Does repentance come before or after salvation? Yes.

So where are you today, friend? Has your life been turned around toward God? The Kingdom of God is near. Today is the day. The time is now.

Lord, I desire to repent. Do this in me. I will not resist. Turn me away from the world and toward You. Show me Your heart and bring deep regret in me that will prevent my return to the same sin. I choose to draw near to You. Draw near to me, O God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Timing

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Timing
Words of Faith 10-5-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[12] When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. [13] Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali [14] to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: [15] "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles [16] the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

Jesus knew where He was going and when. Both are important.

It was not until John had been put in prison that Jesus returned to the Galilee. Timing is important. Somehow Jesus knew that His ministry was not to overlap with that of the baptizer. John had come to prepare the way-- Jesus had come to announce that the Kingdom of God was at hand. There was no competition here. Jesus had waited thirty years before beginning His public ministry. A few more days would do. The timing had to be God’s.

Jesus returned to Nazareth but then went on to a town where He knew no one. Why? Luke tells us Jesus was not received in His hometown of Nazareth, but there is more to it than that. Isaiah had prophesied seven hundred years earlier the road map for Jesus. From the Land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- this was where the Light of the world would dawn. No mistakes here. No wandering. Pinpoint accuracy.

Are you listening to God's timing in your life? Sometimes we get eager. We may run ahead of God, or we may fall behind. Even Jesus waited on the Lord. He waited thirty years, then waited a few more days until John's ministry was concluded. Jesus knew better than to do the right thing in the wrong timing.

Are you in the right place? Jesus knew that there was only one place in the world for Him to begin His ministry. Sometimes we try earnestly, but we are simply in the wrong place. We may get into the wrong geography, or even the wrong ministry for our gifts. Only the Lord can reveal that truth. But He believes in good roadmaps and pinpoint accuracy. Listen carefully.

Lord, Jesus, let me be in Your timing and Your location. I want to be where You are at work and where You want to use me. I want Your will for my life. I am listening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Temptation of the World

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Temptation of the World
Words of Faith 10-2-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9] "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
[10] Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
[11] Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Satan's final test involved another subtle twist. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."This was God the Father's ultimate plan for Jesus to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. Satan offered Jesus the correct vision, but he proposed the wrong method.

Was this a legitimate offer? The Bible teaches that the kingdoms of the world are presently under the rule of Satan. He is the "god of this Age" (2 Cor. 4:4). He is the "the prince of this world" (John 12:31, Eph. 2:2). This dominion was actually surrendered by Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan offered to give these kingdoms to Jesus if only He would bow down and worship him. The problem with that plan, even beyond the obvious idolatry, was that Jesus would never have gone to the cross! With this "easy plan," Jesus would have never paid for our sin. He would have never accomplished the defeat of the enemy. The method the Father chose was not surrender to Satan, but the defeat of Satan. The method chosen was for Christ Jesus, though in very nature God, to make himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness to humble himself (not exalt Himself) and then become obedient to death, even death on a cross. All this that God might exalt him (not Jesus exalt Himself) to the highest place and give him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (even the knee of Satan), and every tongue confess (even the tongue of Satan) that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5‑11). The Father's plan was tough but infinitely more productive, to say the least.

Jesus answered the temptation with Scripture once again. "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'" (Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20).

The truth is that Satan will tempt us with an easy path to a wonderful goal. He will try to turn our head with a compromised method that strives for what appears to be a noble end. He will woo us with an "end that justifies the means". Satan will do anything to get us to sell out to his method, even if it means giving us an apparent victory for the Kingdom. The bottom line is that if we use the enemy’s method, we have surrendered to his kingdom of darkness.

How are you doing with the third temptation? Are you compromised? Have you given in to the enemy's logic? Are you selling out for a good cause? Have you allowed a flawed method to take over because the goal is noble? Are you working with the schemes of darkness even though you have your eye on the light? It won’t work. It never has. It never will. Don’t do it. Walk in the light.

Lord, reveal in me any compromise that has diluted Your plan for my life. Show me the changes I need to make. Stir up in me a genuine spirit of repentance that I may worship You, the Lord my God, and You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Temptation of the Spectacular

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Temptation of the Spectacular
Words of Faith 10-1-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. [6] "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.'"[7] Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

The second temptation Jesus encountered was to test God and to base life on the spectacular. When trying to pull Jesus away from the Father did not succeed, Satan tempted Jesus to force the Father into a particular action. Jesus' humanity would have surely longed to see such a flashy confirmation of His identity, but this was not the plan God had in mind.

Satan stepped up his attack by quoting Scripture. It is often the ploy of the enemy to twist the Word of God and make his temptation sound spiritual. Remember that in the garden, Satan misquoted the direction and prohibition that God had given to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-3).

We forget that Satan was once the most brilliant of all the angels. He knows Scripture better than we do and can twist God’s Word to suit himself and his diabolical goals. Just because something sounds "spiritual" or is peppered with Scripture does not mean it is of God. We can know the difference only through careful knowledge of the true Word and the Holy Spirit's discernment.

Judaism had many Messianic expectations. There was the common thought that Messiah would be a military leader who would set Israel free from Roman oppression. Many expected spectacular, miraculous displays of God’s power. From a human perspective, there was a great temptation to fulfill these expectations. But Jesus answered the temptation with Scripture simply and directly. "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

We are often tempted in similar ways. The enemy tempts us to corner God and force Him to do something spectacular. We can be tempted to put God to the test with demands for miracles and "bold prayers" which tell God what to do. We can find ourselves praying our demands: "Nevertheless, not Thy will, but MY will be done."

The Christian community often chases the latest spectacle of "signs and wonders." We often fail to realize that genuine signs and wonders always glorify God and not people. Real miracles come with compassion from God's heart. Many miracles are quiet and do not create a spectacle.

How are you doing with the second temptation? Have you been seeking something spectacular when the quiet truth of God is right under your nose? Have you been putting your demands in God’s face when you need to surrender to Him and seek His face?

Lord, forgive me the arrogance of demanding religion. Give me the quiet faith to trust You and Your will. Speak to me in the still small voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Temptation of Our Way

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Temptation of Our Way
Words of Faith 9-30-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
[4] Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

The first temptation of Jesus had to do with bread, but it was about so much more. After forty days and nights, Jesus was hungry. The tempter came to exploit that weakness.

The tempter knew that Jesus had great power at His disposal that he could use for Himself. The temptation was to act independently of God the Father and satisfy His own needs.

Satan will always work first to separate us from the Father. That is what He attempted to do with Jesus. This was also the temptation that happens in ministry to serve self rather than God and others. As Jesus attempted to sort out the direction of His Messianic ministry, He had to determine whom He would serve.

Jesus' answer in the face of testing was timeless. He answered with Scripture. The tactic was timeless. "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Jesus was clear. Anything that would separate Him from God the Father was not worth it. Nothing can feed the inner longings of life better than the Word of God. The bread that every human needs, even Jesus, was the Word.

The first temptation we encounter as humans is to act independently of God our Father. This was the same temptation Eve and Adam faced in the garden when they spoke with the snake and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Jesus had the power to turn stones into bread. We do not have such power, but we do have the power to take things into our own hands like Eve and Adam did. We have the power to be self-serving. We have the power to do things our way. We have the power to reach for the forbidden. We have the power to wander from God's will. We have the power to stop praying "Give us this day our daily bread" and instead reach in our own strength for stones.

No matter what illusion the enemy places in our minds, stones are just stones and never satisfy like the Word. We are often tempted to cling to our own will and way. We may even cling to what God has put into our hands and seek to control the bread He has provided. We refuse to return first fruits. We think we can be in control, but it is all a facade.

The truth is that there is no bread but Jesus Himself, who is the Bread of Life. He is the Word made flesh, proceeding from the mouth of God. He satisfies our souls. As His Word abides in us, we are strengthened and find life.

How are you doing with the first test?

Lord, I pray that I might be united with You. May nothing separate me from You. I choose to abide in Your Word. I choose to resist the enemy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Led to be Tempted

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Led to be Tempted
Words of Faith 9-29-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Matthew 4
[1] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

Isn’t it strange that the first place that the Spirit of God led Jesus was into a place of testing?

Yes. The Spirit of God led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. No. God does not tempt us, but He does test us. Such a test may involve allowing the devil to tempt us. We know that God allowed Satan to test Job when he asked. Here, the Spirit of God was even more deliberate in intentionally leading Jesus into the place of testing.

In the next few days, we will see why this was so important, but first we must realize that Jesus was wholly human and fully divine. His human nature had to learn submission to the will of the Father.

As the writer of Hebrews put it, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered" (5:8). We often wonder how Jesus could submit to such pain and agony at the end of his ministry. How was Jesus able to suffer in Gethsemane and not lash out with divine power at God's petty enemies? His walk of obedience was forged in this desert place. The preparation for Gethsemane began in the Judean desert.

For our own lives, we should know that God desires nothing less than total commitment. God's mission often requires nothing less than total resolve. Where do we find that? We learn such resolve in the Judean desert of our lives. We find strength for the mission in the testing of our faith. The desert is the boot camp of God’s army. The desert is where God trains us for spiritual warfare. The desert is where He toughens us for what is ahead.

Do you recall how James, Jesus' half-brother, put it? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (1:2-4). We can only count the trials of life as joy if we understand that God has a larger purpose in mind.

Does that mean we should pray for testing? No. In fact, Jesus directed us to pray that the Father would lead us NOT into the place of temptation. We should not seek testing. Testing and temptation will come, and it will strengthen us when God chooses to lead us in that way.

Are you in a Judean desert? Are you being buffeted by Satan? Is there temptation all around you? The Spirit of God may well have led you to such a place. Pray now for Him to forge in you the strength you need to carry out the mission He has for you. Pray now for Him to teach you how to do spiritual warfare.

Lord, lead me not into temptation. But if You choose to, give me strength of will and character to trust wholly in You and Your power to get me through. In Jesus’ name, Amen.