Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. (Matthew 4:1-2, NRSV)
The typical Halloween image for the devil is horns, pitchfork, tail, and a red suit. The funny thing is that sometimes we might think of God in a red suit, too. A Santa Claus suit. Do you make a list of things that you want God to deliver, and then get angry when they don’t show up? God wants us to pray for all our needs. Sometimes, what we desire is not what we need. Jesus was starving; he hadn’t eaten for 40 days. He desired bread-a reasonable desire! The devil said, “turn these stones into bread.” Jesus said, “No. Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
What are you hungry for? What do you desire?
Prayer: God give me not what I desire, but what I need to serve you and your world. For those who are hungry and lacking in their physical needs.