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’s courageous faith is an example to us. But let me
tell you about another Joshua, one who lived just over a century ago.
This Joshua had a last name, Chamberlain. He was a teacher,
yet, at the Battle of Gettysburg, this Joshua found himself leading a band of
Union soldiers that numbered 80 facing an army of 4,000 Confederate
soldiers—with no reinforcements coming and only one round of ammunition left. Perhaps
he felt like the first Joshua as he overlooked the fortified city of Jericho.
The story about Joshua Chamberlain goes that he climbed up a
hill, held up his sword, and yelled, “Charge!” His 80 soldiers with bayonets fixed
ran towards the enemy and caught them off guard. Within 5 minutes these 80 captured the 4,000 and won a victory that turned
the tide of the war. Wow!
It is not our numbers as we gather to pray that matter. We
who join together in prayer are mighty because what matters is the Lord’s
promised powerful presence with us. He is the One that will turn the tide of our
battle against the enemy. We only must have confidence in His love and choose
courageous faith to charge the enemy
in prayer. We must “be persistent and devoted to prayer…” (Colossians 4:2 AMP)
I remember these words hanging on a wall in my junior high
Sunday school class—
Only one life,
‘Twill soon be past.
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
C. Studd
May we strive in prayer, praying constantly and earnestly with
a passion for the welfare of others. (Colossians 4:12-13)
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