Take Hold of Courage
"Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4).
God of source and full supply, You have taught us to pray, Give us today our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). And knowing that humans do 'not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4), You supply us with the strengthening, sustaining bread of Your word. As we step into each day, only Your words can prepare us for the battles ahead.
In the past, You spoke Your words of calm assurance to Your people through the mouth of the priests who stood before You on their behalf. But now since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14) You speak to us a better word (Hebrews 12:24), and You invite us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Oh Lord, our great high priest at Your right hand is not unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but...has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). And He still speaks Your unchanging word, preparing us for battle against our enemies.
Our Father, today we rely on You as we face the enemies of doubt and fear in the battlefield of the mind. Sustain us with Your steadying words, Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified... For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Help us to take hold of courage amid the sights and sounds of battle all around us. Keep us from anxiety and disquiet, dread and terror, even as the troubles of this world bombard us on every side.
Help us to hear You over the rattling sabers of stressful jobs and financial need, failing health and medical concerns, troubled relationships, and difficult decisions. Keep our minds on the eternal, and not the temporal, even as we look to You for deliverance and relief.
In the increasing din of violence, instability, broken systems, failed processes, and untrustworthy powers, remind us to turn our eyes to Jesus, the conquering Prince of Peace. Remind us that You are the same God who gave assurance to Your distressed people, "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13).
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