Welcome to The Turnaround’s 52 Days of Prayer!
Introduction
Welcome to day 24 of our 52 days of prayer. Joshua was given the daunting task of leading God’s people from the wilderness into the Promised Land. A whole rebellious generation had died in the wilderness except for Caleb and Joshua. It was a new day. A time for a turnaround in the nation of Israel. How would they respond? Would the people walk by faith and would Joshua lead with courage and the confidence of God’s presence? It was a time of fear and uncertainty. The call to be strong and courageous can sometimes seem overwhelming.
Insight
John Wayne, who often spoke about courage and bravery, said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” Courage is not the absence of fear but being able to move forward despite it. Joshua wasn’t being asked to find his own courage but to find courage in the face of fear because of God’s presence with him.
Three times in the first nine verses of Joshua 1, Joshua is given the command, “Be strong and courageous (vv. 6, 7, 9). God gave the same command to Moses in Deuteronomy 31:6, 8. What would unlock courage in the heart of Joshua? It would be the promise of God’s presence given in Joshua 1:5 (ESV) “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” The same promise is restated for us in Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.” God’s presence with us allows us to move forward in faith that displaces fear and replaces it with courage!
For a turnaround in our country, we need men and women of God who speak the truth in courage. A courage fueled by the presence of almighty God. Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Courage is not a suggestion; it is a command to those who walk in the fear of God and his presence. May we be people of courage, not because of who we are, but because of who HE is!
Turnaround Question
We live in fearful times that require courageous and bold believers to lead a turnaround in our nation. Is fear holding you back from being that kind of leader? Like Joshua, would you take the promise of God to heart, and lead with courage and boldness in these days? Like Esther of old, perhaps God is calling you for “such a time as this.”
Prayer
Father, thank you for Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us who never leaves us or forsakes us. We desperately need men and women of courage who depend completely on you to lead out in a turnaround for our nation. Father, we need a turnaround! May our dependence be entirely upon you. In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus! Amen!
