SPRING FORTH NOW 2023

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “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.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me. Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)

Life and its challenges, which are common to us all, have come to test who we really are and tease out who we will become. Because of the reality of life’s challenges for us all, no matter where we are, what we have, and what we do in life they press out of us the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly, the known and the unknown and challenges us to choose our path forward. What will become of you and your life is in your hands and you have been given the power to shape and develop your life, a free will to choose. The choices you make will be grounded in what you believe to be true about you and whom you are becoming as well as the resource(s) available to you to achieve your expected end. Thus, the more you know yourself and who you believe you can become, and what and whom you can rely on, the greater equipped you are to discern, make wise choices to navigate life’s challenges. Creator-God has determined that you are the Crown Of His Glory, the lead in revealing Himself to the world in the fullness of His presence, power, and promises for life and life more abundantly. Choose to believe whom God says that you are, diligently pursuing, becoming, what the Creator-God intends for you and your life, and rely on Him to assist you in bringing to pass your expected end. Challenges are going to come but do not allow life’s challenges to drive your narrative, stay true to who you are and whom God has intended you to be, and see the salvation, God’s promised deliverance into your life and life more abundantly!