“Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.’ And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city.” ~ Joshua 8:18
REFERENCE:
There are things God wants you to have in life that you may not have because you have not been able to reach out in faith to receive them. Faith demonstrates to God your absolute conviction that He will do what He says He will, your expectation to receive your desire, and your willingness to act as though you already have it. God makes promises to us, but faith reaches out to receive them.
These attributes of faith were signified in God asking Joshua to stretch out the spear in his hand. The battle he faced was on the heels of a recent defeat by Ai – the same enemy. God knew that Joshua could hesitate, despite the military strategy he had. Also, God knew that battles are won in the faith realm (domiciled in our spirit man), not on the battlefield. The stretching of the spear in Joshua’s hand said to him, God has given you victory…go against them.
Faith is not a dormant force; it is a dominating force. It is not docile; it reaches out to lay hold on the promise of God. It does not sit and expect the fulfillment of a promise but puts in the work because faith without action is dead. Do not be slack about any promise God gave you. Reach out in faith – believe, pray, confess, and act like it is yours. Hunger to see it happen, and it will.
Is there an ‘Ai’ that you know God wants you to conquer? Lay claim to it by faith. It may seem impossible, but with God, nothing is. No present situation should discourage you, no matter how bad or difficult it seems. God will not give you a dream or a promise that He does not want to fulfill. When God told Joshua to stretch out his spear, the defeat of Ai was a done deal.
Take out your ‘faith-spear’ and stretch it over your family, illness, invisible battles, fear, children, subjects, projects, etc. God has given you ‘Ai;’ He has prepared present victory in the place of former defeat. Let your faith reach out to receive what God has for you. Be bold and unshaken in faith. Declare God’s promises over your life. As you step out today, I pray that you will see the fulfillment of God’s promise; your faith will not fail you; it will produce fruits in Jesus’ name.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXT:
Matthew 9:28-30, II Corinthians 4:13, and Romans 8:31-34.
PRAYER:
+ I thank You, Lord, for the reality of Your promises and readiness to perform them for me.
+ I reach out in faith and claim every promise You have made about every area of my life.
+ Be it unto me according to Your word, O Lord. I declare victory in every area of my life now.
