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Deuteronomy 20:1 - Do not fear or panic or be in dread - Day 166

Greetings fellow soldiers,

Today's devotion is somewhat militaristic.  But this passage is contrary to inspirational messages.  Maybe you have seen the Geico commercial about why Pinocchio is a bad motivational speaker.  In reality, only God can be the foundation for victory in life.

Blessings,

Jeff

There are "pep talks" and then there is a passage like this.  For you Shakespeare aficionados, there is Henry V and the "band of brothers" speech.  More recently, there is George C. Scott and Patton's highly redacted speech to the Third Army.  However, the best "pep talk" is getting people to believe that they are better than their opponent  When God speaks to the Israelites before going into the Promised Land, it is all about the One who is on their side, not about their innate fighting abilities.  God is the source of victory. 

So what about today?  While we are not facing horses and chariots and large armies, we are facing a culture becoming more secular every day. It can be just as frightening.  But God is still saying to us "do not fear or panic or be in dread of them" because He is with us.   

Instruction - what does God expect of me - I really need to trust in the One who is on my side not on my intellectual ability to persuade people into the kingdom.  All spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, giving, evangelism) are about showing us the greatness of God.

Thanksgiving - praise the Lord our God who brought us out of  slavery to sin without any assistance from us.  He gave us the victory so that He would get all the glory.

Confession - thinking of sermons as psychological pep talks to make me feel better about myself and show me what I can do for God.

Supplication - as we prepare for another church year, we would not fear or panic or be in dread of what the world might throw at us.  How great is our God!!!


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