the desert

Before Jesus ministry really took off, He went by God's direction into the desert to not eat or drink for a long time. Desert gets really hot and really cold. At Jesus' most physically broken down point, He would not yield to the temptation to think wrongly of God or to disobey Him.

I recently had the stomach flu and strep throat at the same time. I didn't even know that combination was possible. This was in addition to just moving and wading through pregnancy nausea. Construction workers were in my home using strong chemicals and for a while our house didn't have heat or hot water. Let me tell you, there was some lowness going on in my spirit. Unknowingly, I had made my way to the desert.

As I so badly wanted to drink, I thought about Jesus going so many more days than I had and how He trusted God so explicitly. Till the brink of physical starvation Jesus would declare that God's Words would feed His soul. While literally dying of thirst, Jesus finds the quenching satisfaction of God's will over His. He could worship when His physical surroundings were absolutely harsh, because God's goodness never fails.

I heard someone say in a prayer recently, "Lord, when we don't understand Your hand, help us to trust Your heart."

When I do not understand, Lord, You are my Poppa God and You are good. You are love. You are kindness and joy. May deserts only be the beginning of new days of Your Spirit's power and fruit for Your kingdom.