Episode 24 — Matthew 4:1–11 — Standing on God’s Word

Hey Everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s an honor to be with you today. Today is January 24.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down
Jesus is here.
He’s waiting for you to meet with Him.
Are you ready?
Take a moment to pause, quiet your mind, and turn your attention toward Jesus.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.
As you inhale, whisper in your heart: “I have seen.”
As you exhale, pray: “Your salvation.”
Do this three times, then sit in silence for a few moments.
Ask God to speak to you.

Read
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.  (Matthew 4:1–11, NLT)

Notice
What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a word or phrase that catches your attention?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread
Close your eyes, listen to the Scripture again, and imagine being in this scene — watching the action unfold.
 
Meditate
This scene reminds me of a tennis match.
Satan serves a temptation.
Jesus returns it with Scripture.
Satan tries again.
Jesus answers with another verse.
One more attempt from Satan — and Jesus finishes the match with a decisive shot.
Jesus responded to every temptation with the truth of God’s Word.
He overcame deception with Scripture, never wavering or considering giving in.
His confidence in God’s truth was unshakable.
This challenges me to hide God’s Word in my heart so that when temptation comes, I can stand firm on His truth as well.
Take a few moments to reflect on this truth:
Jesus stood on God’s Word against temptation — and so can I..

Respond
God, lead me away from temptation and guide me into your truth.

Exercise
The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: Sticky Note Scripture
Sticky notes aren’t just for reminders — they can be powerful tools to keep God’s Word in front of us.
Today, write down this verse on a sticky note and place it somewhere you’ll see often — your mirror, desk, refrigerator, or computer screen:
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” (Matthew 4:10, NLT)
Every time you see it, pause to read it slowly and let it sink in. Over time, you’ll find it coming to mind right when you need it most.
The goal is simple: let Scripture “stick” in your mind so it can be lived out in your daily life.
That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard… and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.