When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he targeted his appeal to where Jesus was, at that time, most vulnerable. Jesus had fasted for forty days and would have been very weak and hungry so Satan tempted him to turn stones into bread—a seemingly harmless thing for Jesus to do.

However, Jesus was aware of what Satan was up to so he rebuffed him by quoting God’s Word, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”²

Satan also tempts us in seemingly harmless ways—especially where we are vulnerable. But once we take the bait, he will lead us deeper down sin’s path.

Because Satan will often tempt us at a point of legitimate need, we need to make certain we get this need met in healthy ways so we won’t be susceptible to his tempting us to get them met in sinful, self-destructive ways!

When Satan does tempt us, an important way to rebuff him is to know God’s Word, memorize and meditate on it as David did, and quote it to him as Jesus did.

Dwight L. Moody, the renowned evangelist, knew the power of God’s Word too. He had written in the fly leaf of his Bible, “This book will keep me from sin or sin will keep me from this book.”

It pays to know God’s Word and hide it in our heart.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me a greater love for Your Word with the desire to hide it (memorize) it in my heart—and be quick to quote it when I am tempted. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Psalm 119:11 (NIV).
2. Matthew 4:4 (NIV).