Some things to ponder in your heart today. Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus spent 40 days there. What can shorten our time there? Where does Gods sovereignty meet my free will in the wilderness? What was accomplished in Jesus that allowed Him to complete His wilderness training in only 40 days?

If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him… (2 Timothy 2:12)

There are many answers to the questions I posed, and they are the keys to God doing a “quick work” in us that dramatically shortens our dessert time. I just want to touch on one today. Many times, we pray for God to change our circumstances. Have we ever considered that He arranged them to change us? Often, we pray that God would rid us of an adversary, or some adversity and we miss the higher purpose of those difficult moments. If we run from those moments instead of meeting God in the middle of them then we extend our wilderness time and have to wait for God to arrange another challenge to test and prove us. Testing and proving our relationship with the Lord is what the wilderness is all about. The work in our hearts is tested in adversity by the fire of circumstances arranged by the Holy Spirit. When the work has been done, the heart is as pure gold refined for His glory.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment

Do not ask God to change your circumstances. He sent them to change you! When that which He purposed has been accomplished then His favor will rest on your life as you exit the wilderness and enter the realm of promise.

Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness Leaning on her beloved?