Matthew 4:1 (nirv)
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There, the devil tempted him.
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Sometimes, God is the One who tests us. Our faith and reliance on Him is built in times of hardship. Often times, it takes the inability to control something to really show us that we’ve never been in control in the first place. And with that revelation comes our individual proof and examples of God’s goodness; His gifts, His protection, and His kind, loving character.
So what do we do when we’re in the desert? In Matthew 4:2-11, Jesus gives us a great example to follow. I highly suggest reading through this passage on your own, but here’s a synopsis of the way Jesus handled His time in the dessert.
Jesus:
- Trusted God to give Him exactly what He needed (both spiritually and physically).
- Knew God’s character well enough to know the truth (and discern the lies).
- Remained faithful to God, even through temptation.
It’s easy to lose hope when you’re in the desert, facing trials and temptations. But be encouraged: a large part of being a follower of Jesus is learning to live like Him. And He’s given us a blueprint to follow.
Write
Write about whatever is going on in your life, good or bad, in your journal.
Pray
Ask the Lord to help you walk through the desert by using His footsteps as your blueprint and guide.
10 minPrep Time
13 minCook Time
23 minTotal Time
Serves 20 Cookies
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 + 1/4 stick butter, softened
- 1 1/3 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons syrup
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Place butter in a mixing bowl and beat until creamy, about 90 seconds
- Add in sugar and vanilla and continue mixing until fully combined
- Slowly add in flour and mix just until combined - dough will be crumbly
- Set aside and start to make filling by adding all filling ingredients to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat
- Stir frequently until butter is fully melted and mixture has come to a boil
- Remove from heat and allow to cool
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
- Add some extra sugar to a small bowl and set aside
- Grab about a tablespoon of cookie dough and roll into a ball in your hands, pressing in the crumbles
- Roll ball in sugar and then place on your cookie sheet
- Start to form a well with your thumb and slightly flatten out the remainder of the cookie
- Bake for 8 minutes and remove from oven
- Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of pecan mixture into the well of each cookie and return to oven for 5 minutes
- Allow to cool and harden before eating
