READING: 1 Chronicles 22-24, John 8:28-59
“The Lord your God is with you, isn’t He?”
1 Chronicles 22:18
We’ve read the words before. Moses spoke them to Joshua as he commissioned him (Deut. 31:7-8), and God then echoed them to Joshua as the people of God prepared to enter the Promised Land (Josh. 1:9). Now, it was David who spoke them to his son, Solomon, and to the people as they moved toward building the Temple: “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged” (1 Chron. 22:13). The work would not be easy. The battles would be real. Discouragement would always be a possibility. In the power of God, though, Solomon could tackle the task without fear. Knowing you’re doing what God calls you to do has a way of alleviating fear that sometimes cripples us.
Moreover, David emphasized the need for Solomon to be fully obedient to God, just as God had required of Joshua (Josh. 1:7). He was to keep the law of the Lord, and through that obedience he would succeed as he carefully followed “the statutes and ordinances the Lord commanded Moses for Israel” (1 Chron. 22:12-13). The people who assisted Solomon were to be equally faithful to the Lord, seeking Him with all their being: “Now determine in your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God” (1 Chron. 22:19). As obedient, trusting people, they could then focus on building the Tabernacle.
This combination of obedience and strength and courage demands our attention. We might desire to be strong and courageous as we follow God, but it is difficult to get there if our heart and mind are not focused intensely on Him. Life is filled with frightening things that hound us. Despair often lurks just around the corner – and were it not for God’s presence in our lives, many of us would go in that direction. That’s one reason why we must lock our heart on God: every inch of distance between us and God is an open door for Satan to wedge himself in through discouragement and fear. He looks for those open doors, and we too often make them readily available through our disobedience.
If your life is characterized by fear and discouragement, evaluate the depth of your commitment to God. A strong commitment to God is not a guarantee of continual victory over each of these emotions, but trusting Him fully has an amazing way of granting us steadfastness, joy, and peace. So, decide today to seek God with all your being. He is with you.
ACTION STEPS:
- Turn from any recurrent sin in your life. Seek God with your entire being.
- Talk to a brother or sister in Christ if you struggle with fear or discouragement. Pray together for victory.
PRAYER: “God, I want to follow You fully. Help me overcome my fears. Thank You that You are with me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 25-27, John 9:1-23
