"People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, he had been in the wilderness for a long time, 40 days and 40 nights. He was not eating any food during that time because he was fasting. He was giving his energy to communing with his Father and gaining strength from their relationship. At the end of his time there, Satan came to tempt him. Jesus, however, resisted the temptation and he never gave in.
It is interesting how God had prepared Jesus for this trial. He did not have self help books or conferences he could attend. Instead, God the Father led Jesus to be physically weaker so that he would lean fully on God. Jesus was on a 40 day fast. This was a fast of love, affirmation, and encouragement. He was not weakened by his lack of food. In fact, he made it clear that food alone wasn't what made a child of God strong. Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts in fasting -- we are able to see that it isn't the food that sustains us, but God's power that dwells within us.
Where do you find your strength?
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