If

Tough economic times try our patience, reveal our priorities and test our faith … Families minimize frivolities, count and roll pennies and try to stay in the black … Business declines, stocks fluctuate and consumers hesitate to make major purchases. Yes, we personally know the meaning of the tight squeeze and it does not refer to squeezing from the top or bottom of the toothpaste roll.

We do have financial needs and feel the strain of meeting them; it would be irresponsible to ignore them. A loving parent wants to put bread on the table and ability to pay creditors; is money pulled from thin air; what are they to do? The Father above tests our faith; Satan tempts our soul. His tactics have changed little since his one-on-one with Jesus in the wilderness.

“And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:2b-4 NKJ).” Jesus was hungry; Jesus understands our temptations to satisfy hunger and need, yet opens our eyes to the greater sustainer of life. —Pam Ford Davis

Heavenly Father, forgive me for listening to Satan’s twisted taunts; if Jesus was the Son of God he would do this and that to prove it. Keep me focused on reality and my urgent need to slice the bread of life. In Jesus name. Amen.