Luke 4:13-15
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Recall that Jesus has just endured and resisted temptation in the wilderness, and then beginning with the last verse of our previous passage, read Luke 4:13-15 a couple of times noting any word or phrase that stands out as you read.
Through all the crafty efforts of the tempter, Jesus remains true to God’s purpose and plan for his life. And Satan, realizing the futility of his efforts to lure Jesus into sin through human desires, moves away leaving Jesus free of temptation for the time being. Where all others fail, Jesus prevails over temptation.
Our temptations can originate from our own dysfunction and brokenness, or at times temptations arise from an external source. But whether we face internal or external temptation, we can through the power of Jesus, resist. And the tempter will eventually cease his attempts to deceive us and pull us away from God’s purpose and plan for our lives.
Take a moment to contemplate these words written by James, the half-brother of Jesus:
“…humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you…” – James 4:7-8
Sit with these words noticing anything that comes to mind. Share your thoughts openly and honestly with Jesus.
Read Luke 4:13-15 again.
With the exit of Satan and the cessation of Satan’s attempts to lure Jesus into rebellion, Jesus is free to be fully filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. And if our lives are surrendered and “hidden” in Jesus, we can also experience the power of his Spirit. But in order to be filled, we must first empty ourselves of any ground we have given over to the Tempter.
For the rest of your time in meditation, consider asking the Holy Spirit to search your mind and heart and show you any areas where you have given in to temptation and created a barrier that keeps you from being filled with the Spirit’s power.
Take time to confess anything that comes to mind and ask Jesus if there is anything you need to do to move forward.
When you feel ready, consider asking the Holy Spirit to fill you.
What might Jesus want you to learn or do as a result of his example?
Will you?
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