Hungry Stomach, Full Soul
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, …was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days…. Luke 4:1-2 (NIV)It was the day before my colonoscopy. Doctor’s orders were no solid food. Liquids only. It was noon and I was hungry. Whether it was that I was hungry or that I had been denied the right, the temptation to eat was overwhelming. I didn’t know if I could do it.
I may not have been able to feed my body that day, but I could feed my soul…so I read about Jesus’ temptation. Luke 4:1-2 states that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and after being led into the desert and tempted by Satan, He didn’t eat for forty days — He was able to resist. I can’t begin to imagine the hunger and temptation He was feeling after forty days. But something in the text caught my eye. His stomach may have been empty, but his soul was full of the Holy Spirit. And so when the devil tempted Him, He could resist.
I prayed for God to fill me with His Spirit…to give me the strength to resist temptation. The day went by and I didn’t eat a bite.
Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Give me strength to resist temptation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
By Judy (Florida, USA)
