READ Luke 4
Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit and tempted by Satan.

INSIGHT
When Satan tempts Jesus, he offers Him things which God has already promised to give to Jesus. The things are not wrong in and of themselves, but they are not in God’s time or in God’s way. Each time Jesus rebuffs Satan, He does so with Scripture. Each time Satan offers Jesus something, Jesus’ reply is, “No, because it is written . . .” To be victorious, we must know Scripture well enough to use it in our spiritual warfare, to see
through the tricks of Satan.

PRAYER
The repentant heart is one that can offer praise to the Lord:
Lord, you have been our refuge  
in every generation.  
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God
(Psalm 90:1-2).

How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works
(Psalm 104:24, 31).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
David’s conscience troubled him after he had taken a census of the troops. He said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away your servant’s guilt.” (2 Samuel 24:10).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
By grace I have been saved through faith, and that not of myself; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest I should boast. For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them (Based on Ephesians 2:8-10).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater wisdom for living as God would want you to
• The needs of your immediate family
• Your activities for the day
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Bless the Lord, all his armies,
his servants who do his will.  
Bless the Lord, all his works
in all the places where he rules.  
My soul, bless the Lord! (Psalm 103:21-22).