And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

Isaiah 54: 16b-17a

Joshua faced the enemy with courage at the Walls of Jericho because the Lord, prior to the onset of battle, had delivered Jericho into his hands, along with its king and its fighting men (Joshua 6:2).  No hurdle or roadblock is too great for God.  Elijah faced down the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah with unshakeable confidence, because the God of his ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel was still the same God he believed in.  And just as he had rendered victory in the past, he would render victory now (I Kings 18: 36-38).  No opposition, great or small, can deter God’s purposes for you.  Nehemiah took on the formidable task of rebuilding Jerusalem’s Walls (walls that had been broken down for 100 years) because he trusted in this same God (Nehemiah 1: 4-11).  Nehemiah had no leadership ability to lean on, neither did he have wall building expertise, but with God on his side, supplying all the resources he needed, he rebuilt Jerusalem’s Walls in 52 days!  This same Lord will accomplish all his plans through you if you are willing.  And Daniel knelt quietly praying in the lion’s den, because he knew that the God he served would protect him; and he did by shutting the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6:13-22).  No threat, can stop God from accomplishing his will for you.  And lastly, when the crowds and the Pharisees accused him, and hurled insults at him, Jesus did not utter a mumbling word because he knew God would have the final say.  He knew vengeance belonged to God and he would repay every offence in his time (Romans 12:19).

Rejoice and be glad believer, for the Lord is on your side.  Satan roams to and fro like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8); he roams across the earth wreaking havoc, but even he in under the Lord’s authority (1 Job 12).  Therefore, be courageous!  No matter what the challenge, task, test or situation you are facing may look like or feel like, the writer of the first letter of John 4:4 declares this about you, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  The Spirit of the one who is in you is greater than the spirit of the devourer because the Spirit of the one who is in you has overcome sin and death, and any kind of test you might face today, tomorrow or in the distant future.

So, stand!  And after you have stood the test, stand yet again in him.

Loving God, raise up your hedge of protection around me today.  Keep me safe in the shelter of your wings.  By faith, I believe, this battle is not mine, it is yours.  Have your way in my life and give me unshakeable confidence in you, because your ways are not my ways, your thoughts not my thoughts.  I commit the outcome of my situation entirely to you, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.