Daniel Fast- Called to Fight Until VictorySýnishorn

Day 12: Not Afraid nor Intimidated

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Joshua faced a daunting task – conquering a land inhabited by numerous nations and hostile kings with strong, subjugated people. God encouraged Joshua by referencing Moses, saying, "As I was with Moses, so will I be with you." Moses' leadership included the remarkable crossing of the Red Sea, a moment Rahab recalled while speaking to the two spies, even after forty years (Joshua 2:9-11).

Many times, we encounter a crisis of faith when, much like Israel, we find ourselves surrounded by complex problems on one side and difficult challenges on the other. A similar situation arose at the Red Sea: Israel faced an advancing Egyptian army on one side and the tumultuous sea on the other. The Bible notes, "They were afraid and cried out to the Lord" (Exodus 14:10), and then a dreadful murmur swept through them. Why? Why did they panic in the tight circumstances of life?

During such moments, we MUST remember God's promises, trust them, and fight for them in faith, as exemplified by Jacob (Genesis 32) and Esther during life's challenges. Moses played a crucial role in leading Israel through this crisis of faith. He saw and understood God's faithfulness in all things. Despite the circumstances of the visible moment, Moses envisioned the invisible – entering the promised land. Instead of defending himself against an outraged, desperate people and taking criticism personally, Moses encouraged them, saying, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and you will see the salvation of the Lord...The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, but you be still" (Exodus 14:13-14).

People of faith, armed with promises, take a firm stand:

1. Do no to fear or panic.

2. Stand firm and hold fast to the promises.

3. Remain calm.

The enemy's strategy is to paralyze us with fear. Fear and unbelief can erase from our minds all of God's promises and faithfulness of the past. By faith, Israel boldly left Egypt, and now, by faith, they must stand still and witness God's destruction of all Egyptian horsemen and chariots in the sea! What a victory! Like Israel, each of us will face a crisis of faith in our lives – crucial moments where we can either turn back in fear or stand firm in faith, trusting God's promise of 100 percent victory.

“Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witness. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Isaiah 44:8

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but to see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”

Matthew 24:6

Reflection Questions:

1. As a leader, how do you respond in a crisis?

2. What crisis of faith are you experiencing right now? Write your fears about it on a piece of paper with a blue or black pen.

3. What promises give you hope and strengthen your faith? Write all the promises over your fears in a bright yellow or orange highlighter. Give it to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer:

1. For complete peace and rest at the feet of Jesus Christ during challenging and uncertain times in our lives.
2. For Action Sports – may we see multiplication of teams and disciples in every skate park, climbing gym, beach, etc.