God has already gone before you

Are you feeling anxious today because you don’t know what you’re walking into? Israel was going into a good situation, the Promised Land. They had just come out of a bad one: a back-breaking, soul-destroying, hope-extinguishing 430 years of slavery. Now they were going to be free to own their own homes, raise their own families, work at jobs they liked, and be well paid for it. But the Promised Land wasn’t problem-free. There were enemy strongholds that had to be conquered one by one, and it would take time. ‘The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you’ (Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV). Question: is this a similar situation to the one you find yourself in today? You’re embarking on a new relationship, a new job, a new ministry, or an unfamiliar area where you don’t have all the answers? And because you don’t know exactly what’s involved, you’re anxious? Don’t be! Here’s the word for you today: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged’ (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NIV). Carry these promises with you. And when your confidence starts to falter and your faith fluctuates, read them, stand on them, and count on God to honour His Word.

Prayer Point

God, You know everything about me, and You know that new situations can create a chain of anxiety within me. But You want to release me from worry so that I can live in freedom. When I’m feeling nervous of the unfamiliar, help me to draw on Your strength to carry me through. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pegues, Deborah Smith, Emergency Prayers: God’s Help in Your Time of Need (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2008).