Forty Days of Prayer: Day 28
Day 28
Joshua 10:7-8, 12-13
"So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will able to withstand you."
On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:
'Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.'
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies."
The above passage is yet another incredible story about our Almighty God displaying His glory through the faith of a human being.
To give some context about these verses, Joshua and the army of Israel is heading to the city of Gibeon to fight five kings who had formed a strong coalition against them. The enemies of Joshua were on a mission to defeat Israel. But then, we hear God's promise to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, I have given them into your hand. Not one to them will be able to withstand you."
Before I go further with this post, notice God's command to Joshua: "Do not be afraid of THEM...". From this statement, my question to you is this: who is the "them" in your life? For Joshua, he was tempted to fear the five powerful kings. When thinking of my own fears, I can name three enemies right off the bat: fear of rejection, fear of failure, and fear of the unknown. These things, more in my past than today, sometimes prevent me from even showing up to battle! Let us acknowledge our fears so we know how to fight.
Now secondly, we see that God promises Joshua victory over his enemies. Can we believe this truth for ourselves as well? When He calls us to do something (or pray something) for His name's sake, He will NOT leave us! Listen to what God said to Joshua back then, and what He says to you this very second, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). From this promise and more like it, Joshua moved forward in his faith march, knowing that his Almighty Commander was with him each and every step. Joshua knew that the God who created the sun could also hold it place. He had NO DOUBT that God could do this seemingly impossible thing, so he asked for it in full faith in order that Israel's enemy may defeated. Joshua's faith was the avenue of God's glory; so is yours.
How well do you know your God? The more you know Him, the "bigger" He becomes in your heart and mind; and as a result, your faith in Him grows as well. These two factors, knowing and believing God, are the keys that unlock divine happenings on earth. You and I must deal with the "them's" (the fears) in our lives so that the Lord can even begin to do HIS impossible things in, through, and for us. For example:
To battle the fear of rejection, I must pick up the sword and pierce it through with this promise from God: He says, "I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you" (Isaiah 41:9).
To battle the fear of failure, I wield the sword and believe these holy words: "...my toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
To battle the fear of unknown, I wear this promise from God as a breastplate: "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14).
Soul Sisters, know your God! Believe in His promises! Just like Joshua, who was facing an impossible battle, choose to confidently cry out to YOUR Almighty God, asking Him to act in a powerful way today. The Commander of the sun, moon, and stars waits for His faith-filled children to ask.
For further reading: Jeremiah 9:24; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Ephesians 6:10-17
Dear Lord,
The sun is like a speck to You. The moon is smaller than that. You are greater than my greatest thought of You, and You are more powerful than I can possibly imagine. You move mountains with a breath, and You melt hearts with Your love. Now, Awesome God, do Your work in "impossible" ways today so we can glorify Your name to the world. Amen.
