CWW Week 10 - Day 5 - Fear

Fear

Scripture: 

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)  

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua was a military man who led the army of Israel for Moses.

He was successful because he obeyed God and knew that God was with him.The best example of His obedience was the battle of Jericho. The city walls seemed impenetrable and the troops could see no way to get into the city. But God gave Joshua His instructions and when the trumpets sounded the walls came tumbling down.

Was it the sound vibrations from the trumpets that collapsed the walls or was it Joshuas unshakable faith in God that won the battle? God used Joshuas command strength and his faith to do mighty things in Gods’ name.

Can He use you the same way? We are not all destined to become Generals as Joshua was but our faith can move mountains and if applied in accordance with Gods’ will, we can all blow a trumpet in our own battle for Jericho.

I used to have a fear of public speaking. I overcame that in my aviation career to a large extent because when I addressed my passengers I couldn’t see them. They were behind the bulkhead in the passenger cabin and I was on the flight deck. To overcome my fear I always imagined that I was speaking to just one little old lady who was sitting down the back who had never flown before. I would then speak to make her feel confident and to help her enjoy the flight.

Can you imagine how it must have felt when I addressed my first protest rally in-front of tens of thousands and eventually hundreds of thousands of people?

I didn’t know what these people wanted to hear so I prayed as I walked to the microphone and they fell silent when they heard me praying. I was asking God to tell me what He wanted them to know and they cheered and said amen. From then on it was easy. I knew God needed trumpets and He had chosen me to be one as He has chosen you. Did the walls come tumbling down? That’s a hard question to answer at this moment but some walls did. The divide between many peoples’ hearts and Gods’ came tumbling down and the father of lies, satan, was not happy. He tried every which way to stop the trumpet from blowing but faith in God is an impenetrable barrier to evil when we stay close to Him and name Him as our higher power.

What a pity that there are many of us, unaware of the power given to us all at the cross. The sacrifice of Jesus for our sins gave us Kingdom Authority to renounce evil in His name and put a sword to the effects that sin and satan can have over our lives.

Do not be afraid or discouraged for your Papa, your Creator God is walking with you and fear has no hold when we march in step behind Him.

2 Chronicles 20:15, tells us that God says to King Jehoshaphat through the prophet Jahaziel: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” This verse reassures believers that they don’t need to fear because God is in control of the situation and will fight for them. 

Jehoshaphat was commanded to have his armies sing to their enemies. Seeing they had no fear the enemy fled thinking their numbers were greater. This is where the term “jumping Jehoshaphat” originated.

As we go forward in an often hostile world we can say that this battle is not ours but Gods’ and all we have to do is follow His will in surrender.

Does it strike you as odd that the best way to win the war is to surrender?

God works in mysterious ways.

Questions

1. What battles are you fighting in your life and how can you surrender to get your life back again?
2. You may not feel strong and courageous in your own strength, but are you ready now to take on the power of God to win your battles for you?
3. What practical ways today can you connect to the power source of Jesus in your life and what does that look like?

Prayer

Dear Lord, Papa God.

I am powerless in my own strength and my best efforts seem to amount to nothing. Help me to find your strength in faith. Help me to walk just one step always behind you listening to your still sweet small voice of reason in my life. Help me to dispel the curse of insanity that has me repeating the same mistakes but expecting a different result. Help me in Your strength to be the trumpet that brings down my walls and the walls of others that I come into contact with, in the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Graham Hood.