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Satan’s goal has always been worship. In this powerful final message, Dr. Michael Youssef reveals how the devil offered Jesus instant power without the Cross—exposing his hatred of God’s redemptive plan.

But Jesus did not bow. He refused the shortcut, rejected instant gratification, and stood firm on the authoritative Word of God. The sinless Son of God answered, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Through obedience, suffering, and the Cross, Christ secured the victory Satan tried to steal.

This episode calls believers to:

Because Christ triumphed, His people do not have to live enslaved to fear, temptation, or false promises. We belong to the King—and He alone is worthy of worship.

Scripture Focus: Matthew 4

 If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone. 

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Dr. Richard Swenson, author of The Overload Syndrome and Margin, writes that we need room to breathe—freedom to think, permission to heal, and space for relationships that can easily be starved by the relentless pace of life.

That may describe more people today than ever. Many of us are physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially overloaded. There never seems to be enough time, money, or energy left at the end of the day to recover before everything starts again at full speed.

The answer, at least in part, is something our culture often neglects: margin.

Margin means leaving enough room in our lives to rest, reflect, recover, and reconnect with what matters most. It is, in a sense, taking a break before you break.

A life without margin can carry serious physical, emotional, relational, and even financial consequences.

Consider sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, many Americans regularly struggle to get adequate rest, with a significant number of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours each night. Chronic sleep deprivation has been associated with health concerns including diabetes, obesity, anxiety, and heart disease.

Lack of sleep also affects emotional health, relationships, and decision-making. That means rest is not merely a luxury. It is part of living wisely and caring responsibly for the bodies, relationships, and responsibilities God has entrusted to us.

Perhaps life simply feels too fast right now. Working late nights and weekends may occasionally be necessary, but continuously burning the candle at both ends eventually becomes counterproductive.

Exhaustion leaves little energy for the things that matter most—especially our relationships with others and with the Lord.

Scripture consistently affirms the goodness of work. God calls us to provide for our families, serve others, practice generosity, and faithfully use the abilities and opportunities He has given us.

We work to pay bills, save for future needs, give generously, and contribute to our communities. Productive work is part of God's design.

But work is not all there is. Rest is God's idea too.

In Genesis, God rested on the seventh day of creation—not because He was exhausted, but because His work was complete. He blessed the seventh day and set it apart. Later, Sabbath rest became part of the Ten Commandments given to Israel.

Rest reminds us of an important spiritual reality: our worth does not depend on how much we accomplish.

Author Rich Villodas has observed that Sabbath reminds us that our standing in Christ is not based on our works. A day of rest allows us to stop producing and remember that God's love for us has not changed.

That can be especially difficult in a culture where technology makes it possible to work almost anywhere, at almost any hour. But just because we can keep working does not mean we always should.

Healthy margin allows

In the movie industry, they talk about the “suspension of disbelief.” It’s all make- believe, right? But they try to make the costumes, and the special effects, and the acting so convincing that it suspends our disbelief. They hope we forget it’s fake. Or fiction, if you prefer. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that some people sort of act their way through life. They try to suspend our disbelief about how they’re really living. We’ll see that’s a fruitless pursuit.

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Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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What if your child’s biggest challenge is actually their greatest strength? Dr. Kathy Koch explores life-changing insights from her book 8 Great Smarts, revealing how every child is uniquely wired with different kinds of intelligence – from the nonstop talker to the deep thinker, the music-maker to the curious questioner. Learn how to recognize your child’s natural strengths, nurture what makes them come alive, and stop unintentionally paralyzing their "smarts."
Receive a copy of the "8 Great Smarts" bundle and an audio download of "Unlock Your Child's Learning Potential with the 8 Types of Intelligence" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
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Do you know someone with an anger problem? Anger is one of the most difficult emotions to get under control. But there is hope! Chip shows you a solution, from God’s Word, that will give you specific, strategic help for overcoming anger.

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