There's this quote I ran across the other day that I just loved. It said, "I like to do daring things. Not necessarily because I am brave, I just want to see God answer me, by doing the impossible. It's my favorite thing. Ever. I want to see God here, now, on this earth, turning beauty from ashes."
Has God ever asked you to do something overwhelming, something which you had no idea how on earth you would get it done? He's certainly done that with me. My whole life has been an exercise in the overwhelming. Whether it was starting college when I was 15, or living in Costa Rica on my own when I was 17, or moving to the other side of the world to teach English in South Korea at the age of 21, most of the big experiences in my life have been marked by sheer terror of the unknown, and ultimate dependency on God to get me through.
I wonder if that's how Jesus felt when He went into the wilderness to be tested. Did He know He would be tested? Did He know how long it would last? Did He know that He would win? I get the feeling that He probably didn't know all of the answers. But He took the leap of faith anyway, and went where the Spirit led Him. He went being led by the Holy Spirit; He left being empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Do you feel weak and un-empowered? Maybe it's time you went where the Spirit is leading you. He's not going to give you the strength to do something contrary to His plan. You have to follow His leading first, and then He will give you the strength to do it. So if you're feeling dry and helpless, try taking a leap of faith. Do an exercise in the overwhelming. Follow God's lead, and then just watch as He empowers you to do the impossible.
Has God ever asked you to do something overwhelming, something which you had no idea how on earth you would get it done? He's certainly done that with me. My whole life has been an exercise in the overwhelming. Whether it was starting college when I was 15, or living in Costa Rica on my own when I was 17, or moving to the other side of the world to teach English in South Korea at the age of 21, most of the big experiences in my life have been marked by sheer terror of the unknown, and ultimate dependency on God to get me through.
I wonder if that's how Jesus felt when He went into the wilderness to be tested. Did He know He would be tested? Did He know how long it would last? Did He know that He would win? I get the feeling that He probably didn't know all of the answers. But He took the leap of faith anyway, and went where the Spirit led Him. He went being led by the Holy Spirit; He left being empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Do you feel weak and un-empowered? Maybe it's time you went where the Spirit is leading you. He's not going to give you the strength to do something contrary to His plan. You have to follow His leading first, and then He will give you the strength to do it. So if you're feeling dry and helpless, try taking a leap of faith. Do an exercise in the overwhelming. Follow God's lead, and then just watch as He empowers you to do the impossible.
Matthew 4:1-11
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. 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 shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”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.’[d]”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.
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. 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 shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”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.’[d]”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.
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