Are You Ready For Battle?

Scripture:
Psalm 138:7-8 (NASB)

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Devotional:

When I joined the Navy I didn’t just run off to hop on a ship.  I didn’t have the knowledge or abilities needed to survive let alone prosper on ship in the Navy.  I spent time training in Boot Camp and Apprenticeship Training before I was sent aboard a ship.  Before we send soldiers to war we train them.  They learn how to fight.  They are equipped with the proper equipment to not only survive but to be victorious in battle.  Fighting battles in war is not easy.  Soldiers are tried every day going through all kinds of hardships.  Yet somehow they manage to get through it.  

What hardships do we face?  What are the battles we fight?  We are soldiers fighting in a war.  We go through hardships and tough times.  The good news is the war is won, Christ is victorious.  He is with us as we endure hardships here and now.  Sometimes the hardships are removed.  Sometimes we go through them.  We are not alone, Jesus is with us.  We are given the strength and tools we need to not only survive but to be victorious.  The battles will come and we will face difficulties. We just do not have to face them alone.  We are equipped with what we need to be victorious no matter what we go through.  Remember that through it all no matter what God is with you…

Victory!

Scripture:
2 Chronicles 14:1-11 (NASB)

o Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.

Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the Lord had given him rest. For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.

Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”

Devotional:

Asa returned Judah back to God.  He cleaned up and removed the trash.  His focus was to have a right relationship with God.  At one point the Ethiopian army went to attack Judah.  An army of a million warriors stood upon the battle ground waiting to squash Judah.  Asa had an army that was less than six hundred thousand.  This was an easy victory for Zerah and his army.  Asa in this desperate time didn’t panic but turned to God.  He beseeched God to save Judah.  2 Chronicles 14:12 “So the Lord routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.”  God gave victory to His people.

Where are you at in your life?  Are you in a position like Asa?  Are you up against impossible odds?  Are you going to panic or seek worldly fixes?  Instead turn to God and beseech His help.  God is victory over all, even impossible odds.  When you know beyond a shadow of a doubt you cannot prevail.   When all hope is lost with no way out.  Seek the Lord.  God is victory over the impossible.  Be faithful to Him.  Remember God will never forsake us.  God delivered Israel into the Promised Land.  Through God Israel defeated giants against all odds.  Remember it was God that delivered Israel from out of the hands of Egypt, at the time the most powerful nation in the world.  God is victory over all.  God is victory when defeat looks imminent.  When you know you cannot win, God gives victory.  Be faithful to God because God is faithful to us.  He keeps His promises.  Turn your eyes to the Lord and keep your focus on Him and His ways.  Victory will be yours…

God Is With You...

Scripture:
Genesis 28:10-16 (NASB)

Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Devotional:

In all honesty I can say there was only one time I could noticeably feel the presence of God.  It was in the middle of my walk to Emmaus.  I had gone off to be alone for a few little bit.  I was working through some struggles I was dealing with.  My table, the group of men I was a part of for the weekend, found me and surrounded me.  They all started praying for me and during that moment I felt the Holy Spirit.  It was the only time in my life I could say I felt God’s presence.

How much more did Jacob feel God’s presence that night in his dreams?  It changed his life forever.  He knew God was with him, just as I did at that moment in my life.  God told Jacob that wherever Jacob went that He would be with him.  God promises us the same.  Even though I may not feel His presence I know He is with me.  He is with you as well.  It doesn’t matter if you can see, feel, or hear Him.  God is right there beside you.  He is in you filling your heart with His love and the Holy Spirit.  He promises never to leave or forsake any of us.  Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV):

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”

No matter where we are or what we go through God is with us.  He will guide us and aid us through the good times and the bad times.  We just have to keep our focus on Him.  Allow Him to work in our lives.  Allow Him to be in the driver seat and be in control.  I know in my own life that everything turns out so much better when I follow God’s lead instead of doing things my way.  No matter what I know God is with me.  I know no matter what God is with you…

When Bad Things Happen

Scripture:
Job 1:13-22 (NASB)

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Devotional:

When things start happening or go wrong in our lives I turn to Nancy and say, “When it rains it pours.”  It seems that everything goes wrong all at the same time.  I know several years back it just seemed nothing would go right.  Every time I turned around something happened or didn’t work out.  Instead of turning to God giving praise all I could do was to shout in anger.  I didn’t have the kind of faith that Job had.  I still don’t although I do my best not to blame God.  My goal is to give praise.  I strive to be content and joyful in all things. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV):

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I may not succeed but my goal is to find Christ’s peace and the joy He gives in all circumstances.  God doesn’t cause bad things to happen.  But if we allow Him to work in our lives He can use those times to strengthen us.  Dealing with the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job can allow you to help someone else going through something similar.  God doesn’t cause us to go through the fiery furnace.  But He will lead us through it.  He will never forsake us.  When bad things happen do you blame God or do you give thanks and praise.  In the past I have blamed Him.  Now I strive to give praise and have a thankful heart no matter what happens.