Our Flesh, Our Ego, and Our Pride

It seems like for the last few weeks, God has had me study out Matthew 4. God really showed me that Satan does not have any new tricks to try to snare us with. He has used the same tricks over and over for generations.   He has no need to try to come up with any new tricks since we fall for the same one's over and over.   Satan appeals to our Flesh, our Ego, and our Pride... he said in verse 3 of Matthew chapter 4, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." He knew that Jesus was hungry after fasting for 40 days. Then in verse 6, "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.'"  Satan also knows the word of God, and he was challenging Christ's ego...I'm afraid I may have fallen right there, my flesh would have wanted to say, "Oh yeah! Well just let me show you who I am."  And zapped him right there...Then in verse 9, "All this I will give you," he said, "If you will bow down and worship me." Pride... Look at what I have...but then again look at the cost. But, see how Christ handled Satan.  He was calm, he did not let his emotion's overtake him, he confronted his test with the Word: "Man does not live by bread alone."  Then, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test," and then finally, "Away from me, For it is written:  'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"  God has really been saying to me, don't act from your flesh, your ego, or your pride. Just stop for a minute, keep your mouth shut, and think before you say anything and when you do open your mouth, speak the Word. So often I want to say "get 'em God," and then I want a front row seat to see what happens. We must try to keep our flesh from being the boss. We can never do the things God wants us to do if we let our flesh run our lives.

- RaeAnn Berry