Category: Faith or Fear

Deuteronomy 1:28 NIV
28 “Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.”

1 Samuel 17:26b NIV
David asked the men standing near him…“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17:45-46a NIV
45 David said to [Goliath], “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. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands…”

Verse 28 mentions three things as being causes for the rebellious refusal of the people to obey…How different is this attitude to that of David as he faced the challenge of Goliath…this young man, who was not yet even a soldier, declared, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26b). He carried his faith to its logical end. That is what we must do: we must apply the implications of what we believe about God to every situation we face. (Fernando, Ajith. Deuteronomy—Loving Obedience to a Loving God)

Prayer: Lord, we confess that you are God Almighty. In every situation that we face, empower us to live out what we know is true about you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “From Everlasting (Psalm 90)” sung by Sovereign Grace Music(click here).

̶  JJP

Deuteronomy 1:29-31 NIV
29 Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

“One antidote to such fear is a good memory. Moses urges [the Israelites] to be unafraid in view of what they had already seen in their own recent past—God’s victory over the Egyptians and God’s parental care for them in the wilderness. They had experienced Yahweh both as fighter and as father, as savior and as provider…Faith was no leap in the dark, but a perfectly reasonable step forward with eyes opened wide to what God had already done in the past and had promised to repeat in the future.” (Wright, Christopher J. H. Deuteronomy. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series)

Prayer: Father, thank you that each one of us has a story to share about you as our fighter, our father, our savior and provider. Help us to remember our stories of your faithfulness so that we can respond in faithfulness even when we are afraid. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Not Afraid” sung by Jesus Culture(click here).

̶  JJP

1 Corinthians 12:12, 26 NIV
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

“I have found that some people constantly lose heart when problems come—not because they have ‘an evil, unbelieving heart’ but because they are naturally timid. Some of them have experienced failure all their life, and they find it difficult to believe that God will help them come victoriously through the crisis they are now facing…Sometimes when they are thinking of giving up, we may need to pray with them or urge them or rebuke them or gently hold their hand and guide them along so they will move forward without giving up.”
(Fernando, Ajith. Deuteronomy—Loving Obedience to a Loving God)

All of us have lost heart at some point, and we are comforted knowing that we journey through God’s calling with the church. Today, if you have lost heart, be strengthened knowing that you are not alone; Jesus and his church are interceding for you. If you know of a brother or sister who is struggling, commit to holding their hand through prayer so that, together, we can take the next steps in obedience.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving us one another. We lift up our brothers and sisters who may be losing heart and ask that you would strengthen them to obey and move forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.

̶  JJP

Let’s read the following passages aloud together.

Exodus 14:10a, 13-15 NLT
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. 
13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 

Deuteronomy 1:19-21, 29-30 NLT
19 “Then, just as the LORD our God commanded us, we left Mount Sinai and traveled through the great and terrifying wilderness, as you yourselves remember, and headed toward the hill country of the Amorites. When we arrived at Kadesh-barnea, 20 I said to you, ‘You have now reached the hill country of the Amorites that the LORD our God is giving us. 21 Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’…
29 “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! 30 The LORD your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.” 

Prayer: Father God, thank you that you are fighting for us as we move forward in obedience. Today, we recommit ourselves to doing the work as we stand behind you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “The Lord Our God” sung by Passion(click here).

̶  JJP