Standing Firm in Faith

A Reflection on the Gospel for March 9th, 2025:
First Sunday of Lent

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Luke
​4.1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his Angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Meditating on this passage from Luke’s gospel, I am reminded of Jesus' unwavering faith and selflessness. Despite hunger and human vulnerability, He stood firm against the devil's temptations by relying on God's word. This resonates deeply with me because it mirrors my own struggles and the challenges I've faced while striving to remain faithful.

Journeying with Christ, I learned the power of knowing and professing God's word. It became my shield against discouragement and despair. I recall moments of failure, like performing poorly in exams. My family's comforting words helped, but the self-doubt lingered. I realized it was the devil's tactic to keep me defeated. To fight this, I began professing scriptures whenever challenges arose at school, at work, or dealing with false accusations. Declaring, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," reminded me of my inner strength. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," gave me courage. When surrounded by negativity, I stood on "But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head."

Through these trials, I realized that certain virtues and fruits cannot be produced merely by sitting under great teaching but are cultivated through difficult circumstances that require ultimate trust in God. Each challenge became an opportunity to develop temperance, resilience, and patience—qualities essential for every believer.

Reflecting on Jesus' temptations reminds me of a personal trial in 2023. After being accepted to further my education in Canada, I was short of funds to complete my visa application. My savings in my home country weren't accessible, and I needed 20% more to print my bank statement. Desperate, I prayed and reached out to a brother in Christ, but he had already used his funds. Feeling defeated, I approached a former employer whom I had served with integrity, hoping he would help me. Instead, he made inappropriate advances, leaving me humiliated. I cried out to God, questioning why He allowed this to happen. 

The next day, the same brother in Christ who couldn't help earlier asked for my account details and wired the funds I needed. He even gave me more time to repay. At that moment, I saw God's hand at work. It was a powerful reminder that relying on God, not man, is the key to overcoming temptation and adversity.

This experience taught me that temptations are inevitable, but faith and reliance on the Holy Spirit provide strength to resist. Jesus could have turned stones into bread or bowed to the devil for worldly power, but He chose obedience to His Father. In my situation, I could have compromised my integrity, but walking away with my head high brought me closer to God. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me strength to overcome temptations. Please help me to rely on Your word and the Holy Spirit in moments of trial. May I always choose integrity and faith, just as Jesus did. In Jesus' name, Amen.




Michaelina Dawson-Otoo

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