Wilderness

So, life has been normal. Which may be a good thing. Not sure yet. I feel like its the calm before the storm. Which is in a way satisfying. I'm not sure why. Maybe its because I am realizing how amazing it is that God is preparing me for it. He is not going to let me go. He is not going to leave. He is truly faithful, even when I loose faith.

I pray that this summer will be used to bring glory to God, and to strengthen and grow my relationship with Him. I need more of Him. DESPERATELY.

I was reading in Matthew, and I found something interesting that I have always missed. When the Devil is tempting Jesus, It never really clicked that Satan didn't tempt Christ until AFTER Jesus fasted. Get this : Jesus spent 40 days, fasting and getting closer to God. ( what an intimate picture of love) Yet, when the 40 days ended, who was there to try and persuade Jesus to bow down and worship him?- Satan.

And then, I was paralleling this encounter, with times in my life where I am completely on fire for Christ, when I am running the race with endurance, fasting, praying frequently, and loving others more out of the overflow of my encounters with God. But,... soon after, I feel like I am becoming more tempted to fall back into old habits. To succumb to what makes me feel most comfortable. To justify my laziness ( in response to what Christ is calling me to be [living radically]) by comparing my life to others.

But, i must remember, Christ has conquered Satan. He has won the victory. Even in Matthew, when tempted, Christ prevailed.

"24.He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. 25. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
1 Peter 2:24-25

Revelation 15:3-4
"And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

3 'Great and amazing are Your deeds,
O LORD God the Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed"