40 Days in the Wilderness.

Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the Judean desert.

Satan appeared before him to tempt him. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.

Satan tempted Jesus to break his fast, saying “If you really are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.”

Jesus retorted “It is not bread I need, but the words of the Father.”

Satan told Jesus that if he was so great, to throw himself and let his precious angels catch him.

Jesus was not about to tempt God.

Then Satan had the nerve to show Jesus (the Son of God) all the world and said if you worship me then I will give you all of this.

Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan.”

Then the devil left him and the angels came to attend to him.

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Happiness does not ultimately derive from this world. This world is not designed to make you happy. It is designed to challenge you. And if you believe this world is designed to make you happy, then you are going to get very angry, because as the years of your life pass, you keep asking “Why isn’t my life working? Why is this reality always throwing obstacles in my path? “

– Eckhart Tolle 

These are questions that many are asking:

• Why isn’t my life working?
• Why is reality always throwing obstacles in my path?

We have been tricked into believing that we are supposed to be made happy by the world. Like the world is here for our ultimate entertainment and somehow we are failing if life isn’t all smiles and perfume and cake.

“You can’t be happy now. You can be happy later. Just do this and this and this and this. Always finding problems. Don’t have any space in your mind. There is this knowing that happiness comes from within, above reasoning, and above intellect.

It’s very tempting, the ego says ‘Oh it’s other people that want stuff from you. It’s not you.’

You have to realize everyone else has the same issues. No one wants you to suffer. They also want you to have peace so that we can share peace.

When I am in the ego, I am looking for being a victim and looking for people who are the victimizer (the devil). The ego is looking for distractions.”

– Karthiga Manivannan

Take the story of Jesus. He stood in front of the victimizer (the devil) and he stood in Spirit and in Truth. He was able to overcome the world that was being shown to him. He was able to withstand the temptations, then he transcended the temptations and the angels came to attend to him. The angels signify the peace of God coming over Jesus.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash