Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Have you ever had a moment in your life where you felt stuck, all out of options? An enemy behind you, a wall in front of you. Pressure from every side, and all you wanted to do was give up.
This is precisely where Israel found themselves in today's Verse of the Day, and God had a very pertinent word for them. He told them: "Stay calm."
It comes from Exodus chapter 14, verse 14. It says, "The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."
Cornered and Surrounded
I want you to think about the last time in your own life where you felt cornered like the children of Israel felt here. As they stood, knowing what God promised them, but fear on every side. Surrounded by the waters on either side, the army coming up behind them, literally on their heels, kicking up dust.
They can see the dust rising, wondering if they'll ever get across. Would they make it safely? Should they just turn and fight back?
Think about your human instinctive response—what you want to do when the chaos and the adversity hits you.
The Lord Will Fight for You
But Moses had to remind them what God told him: "The LORD Himself is going to fight for you. Stay calm."
I can't think of a more important message for us today when we find ourselves in circumstances. I don't know what your situation looks like, but maybe there are some unforeseen circumstances or a situation that's come and taken your mind and your heart captive.
When Our Flesh Takes Over
Maybe you haven't found yourself as close as you wanted to be to God, and so your natural instincts—that flesh—takes over. Somebody at your job said something bad to you, you didn't like it, or somebody mistreated you. Maybe, just maybe, it was even traffic—a situation in traffic transpired that caused you to almost lose sight of who you represent as a Christ follower.
Your first natural response is: I'm going to take over. I'm going to fight. I'm going to give them a piece of my mind. I'm going to say something or do something outside the character of who God is. I'm going to respond because of this fight or flight system that psychologically exists within me.
Guess what? That is precisely the wrong response we as Christians and believers should have in moments of adversity, in moments where pressure mounts.
What's Inside Comes Out
When pressure builds up, what's inside is what's going to come out. The question I have is: What's inside of you? Are you filled with His Spirit?
How do you become filled with His Spirit? It's the relationship that you have. You already received this gift once you've given your heart and life to Him. But are you spending time intentionally growing in His Spirit, studying His Word, allowing Him to fill you up and to guide your daily decisions?
Trust a Good Father
If you are, then you'll know in that moment you can fight the flesh and say: Because of His strong Spirit, I'm going to remain calm. I don't know how this works out for me, but He does. I can trust a good Father to do what a good Father is going to do—which is take care of me and all that He has in store for me.
My Challenge for You
My challenge for you this week is to name that battle that you've been exhausting yourself with—you've been wrestling with for far too long. You've been fighting for your life. Name the battle, take your hands off it, and give it to Him.
Pray over it. Release it. Watch God fight for you. Then you will see just how good, just how great His perfect plan was for you all along—when He takes care of it all and delivers you to safety.
