“They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you,” declares the Lord, “to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1:19
Joshua is as much a book about spiritual battles as it is about physical ones.
Maybe we haven’t faced five physical kingdoms coming against us, but I bet we’ve entered many battles with depression, loss, anger, resentment, and disappointment.
Many of us have fought those foes more times than we’d like to admit. I know I have!
What I love about the book of Joshua is seeing Joshua’s relationship with God. Not only was Joshua bold in his faith, but He was also bold with his prayers. Just look at the audacious prayer he prayed in Joshua 10:12-14:
“At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.”
Did you catch that? God extended the day for Joshua so that he could win the battle.
Taking a second look at that battle. How did Joshua REALLY win?
With God’s intervention through prayer.
What God did on the battlefields with Joshua, God can do in your life, too. What battles are you finding yourself in these days? Is it for your faith? Your family? Your job? Your mind?
Learning a lesson from Joshua’s life, every battle we find ourselves in needs to be fought with prayer.
- When Joshua consulted with the Lord and obeyed God’s commands, battles were won.
- When Joshua failed to seek God, battles were lost, and people were hurt. The same is true in our lives, as well.
Friend, I know we live in a broken world. Life can be hard. Every day we are faced with battles both seen and unseen. Battles in the physical sense and the spiritual sense. So how do we fight back? With truth.
This is the truth we cling to:
1. God is always with us in every battle. 2 Chronicles 32:7
2. We are never alone. Joshua 1:9
3. God fights for us. Exodus 14:14
4. What is meant for evil, God can turn to good. Genesis 50:20
The five kings joined forces to take down Joshua and his army of warriors. What they didn’t realize is they were actually making it easier for Joshua and his men. Instead of traveling and fighting five separate kingdoms, which would be tiring on Joshua’s men, having them grouped together all in one massive battle made defeating them even easier!
Over and over again in Joshua, we read, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous…” Joshua 10:25
Those words were not just meant for Joshua’s men, but for you in your battles as well! Whatever battles you are facing today, you too can be strong and courageous!
Like Joshua, God is with you. He will fight your battles. You are not alone in them.
So be brave and courageous! Pray those bold prayers and together, let’s marvel at how God answers them…for His glory!!
Love God Greatly,
This is so encouraging. I feel like i am learning how to pray all over again. Thank you for sharing this.
Ohh I’m so glad it encouraged you, Margie!!!
Thank you for sharing that. I’ve been struggling in my marriage as well as with anxiety. I don’t always see what God is saying when I read the Bible, but when I read others interpretations, it helps me tremendously. I needed this today so much as well as everyday.
Merri,
Thank you do much for joining us on the blog and sharing part of your story. I am so glad you were encouraged!
Merri, I just wanted to add that I too love to see others interpretations of the word. It also helps me a great deal in my studies and learning. Since I have been with LGG I am learning more now then I have ever learned in my entire Christian life. God clearly sent me here to this Spirit-filled site run by Godly spirit-filled women who truly know how to explain and make me understand every word of the bible thus far!! The Lord is with us here. Love God Greatly. 🙂
I’m learning to pray over every little aspect of my life as I face small battles and those that seem like 5 armies at once. These passages help reinforce that force as I didnt pray except in times of great need until recently. Thank you!
I am very weary and trying to tell myself that God has a reason for why I am going through grief and loss.
God is so good. Not only will He fight for us but He loves us. Our enemies today have no chance if we seek Him and follow His ways.