Pray for Victories

Read Exodus 17:8-16

Exodus 17:11
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

This passage teaches us much about spiritual warfare.

1. Victories don’t come without a fight.
Joshua went to fight the Amalekites and Moses went to pray. There are two-prongs to all battles – prayer and action. Moses prayed and Joshua fought. Both parties engage the enemy but in different ways.

2. Victories are dependent on prayer.
When Moses’ hands were up in prayer, Joshua’s armies prevailed. When Moses’ hands were down, the enemies triumphed. Our private relationships with God determine the outcome of our public lives and never vice versa.

3. Victories are best secured with friends.
Aaron and Hur were there to hold up Moses’ hands and let him sit on the stone when Moses’ hands grew weary. Moses could not have made it without his two friends. We all grow tired praying for the same thing over and over again, that is why we need spiritual buddies to come alongside us. They let us sit beside them and help us hold up our hands of faith when our strength is gone. Ask God for such friends. We need them. They are precious allies.

4. Victories are God’s response to prayer.
God allows us to go through defeat when we fail to pray. In prayer, we learn to depend on God. In prayer, we partner with God to secure the victories. Why? Because He wants us to experience the sweat, intensity and joy of the battle. God chooses to move in response to our prayers.

Prayer is a powerful resource weapon bestowed to us by God. Don’t shelf it. Don’t waste it. Use it.

My Goliath and my God

Read I Samuel 17:1-54

I Sam 17:45
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

Are you facing a Goliath-David situation right now? A career hit, a relationship breakup, a difficult choice or a personal faith crisis – looking at the issue feels like we are staring into the face of a giant. Where do we start? What do we do? How is it possible to overcome it when just thinking of it is enough to overwhelm us?

In such an encounter, you don’t take on the giant yourself. You don’t look at the giant and his weapons. You focus on the Lord who is the Commander of the armies of not just Israel, but “the armies of heaven” (Rev 19:14).

Your friends may tell you the situation is hopeless and the task is impossible. Don’t listen to them. They are David’s brothers and the soldiers – professionals who trust in themselves instead of God. Faith defies logical analysis!

You may be hearing whispers within your head telling you to give up – give up on God, give up on faith and give in to depression for you have a right to be bitter about the whole thing. Reject these naysayers in the mighty Name of Jesus.

Instead go in full confidence against the Goliath of our lives in the name of “the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” and secure the victory that is in Him.

Hallelujah and praise the Lord right now for the victory that is already won through Him.