About two years ago I wrote this blog.  I reread it today, and it inspired me.  I thought I would share it with you again.  

The desert was a proving ground for Isreal. But there is an even stronger example of this in the New Testament.

Matthew 4: 1- 2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

After Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit led Him into the desert. There He would be tempted personally by Satan himself. You can read how Jesus faced each of these temptations with the Word of God. Oddly enough, the same words were spoken to the nation of Isreal while they were wandering around in the desert.

My first assignment in ministry was a wilderness experience. I don't like talking about it too much because it makes the church where this happened look bad. But that was 30 years ago now. Both the church and I have changed - drastically for the better.

What did I learn in that desert experience? I learned that God had called me into the ministry. Good, Bad or ugly didn't matter. I was here to serve Him. I also learned that I loved my wife more than ever. Through this experience, our marriage was galvanized.

After I had moved on, some of my contemporaries would approach with their stories of trouble and woe. I would look at them and say, "Been there and done that." Then they would ask me to help them through their tough times. I gladly agreed.

Now if you asked me to go through that desert experience again, would I say yes? Absolutely ------- NOT! But would I trade what I learned there? Not for anything in the world.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, I want to learn everything I can in my desert experiences. Then let me help others as they go through it too. AMEN.