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’” (Matthew 4:3-4).
Our Father in heaven, You have forewarned us of the clever schemes of our adversary, the devil (2 Corinthians 2:11, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8). But You have given us the promise from Scripture:
"God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Thank You for the lessons we learn from our Savior—for all that He taught us in word and in action as the enemy tempted Him to "tell these stones to become bread" (Matthew 4:3):
He showed us how to remain secure and unshaken in our identity as a child of God
O Lord, teach us how to rest in Your loving, watchful care (John 10:29, Romans 8:15, 1 John 3:1). Give us strength and security in You even as the tempter tries to make us doubt the protection of our loving Father—("If you are a child of God..."). You know that we need bread—teach us to entrust our needs to You and to rely on Your promise of provision.
He showed us how to keep perspective when we are tempted to hyper focus on a weakness or a genuine need
Father, protect us from the danger of being so fixed "on bread alone", that we are unable to feast on the abundance of Your house; [and] drink from Your river of delights (Psalm 36:8). Deliver us from the enemy's evil plots to twist our "natural hungers" and genuine needs into obsessive idols, distracting preoccupations or outrageous demands—("tell these stones to become bread...").
Protect us from the tempter's enticement to be so consumed by our need—even a legitimate or pressing need—that we descend into self-absorption or self-pity. Help us not to demand the food we crave (Psalm 78:18), but to trust that “on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided” (Genesis 22:14).
He showed us how to use the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" to "stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11)
Father, fill us with the blessed assurance of all that "is written"—that You satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9)—that You prepare a table before [us] in the presence of [our] enemies (Psalm 23:5)—that You satisfy [our] needs in a sun-scorched land (Isaiah 58:11).
Teach us Lord, to seek the Bread of Heaven. Sanctify our appetites. Satisfy our souls. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13).
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