Reflection: Complete: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do you prepare for overwhelming responsibilities?

2.     Have you ever stepped into a position that you had been trained for but still felt inadequate? What immediate decisions faced you?

3.     Have you been given a task with no training? What skills did it require that you had not used before?

4.     How did you cope with each?

Share: Has God commanded a task in your life recently? How did you react?

Complete: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 11

“As the Lord had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.” Joshua 11:15

Entering new territory sometimes means accepting new responsibilities.

Joshua now faced several angry kings determined to keep their lands as well as multiple cities to overthrow. Most likely he never expected this role in his previous position as Moses’ assistant—and definitely knew it was not humanly possible on his leadership skills alone. Yet he obeyed. And he fully completed his task.

“So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allocations. And the land had rest from war.”

Jesus also gave His own disciples, and those to follow, seemingly impossible commands.

Repent—do the will of His Father in heaven—beseech the Lord to send out workers into His harvest—the last shall be first—abide in Me—forgive—love one another. All so humanly out of reach. At least where our hearts are concerned. How often do we do even desired assignments without some kind of hesitation, or grumbling, or perhaps skipping over some parts when fatigue and confusion creep in?

Like the apostle Paul, though, we really want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” 2 Tim 4:7

Lord, thank you for staying with us and giving us Your Spirit, Your truth, and Your courage to keep going in all conditions until our tasks and our lives are completed in You. Thank you for Your promises of rest within our boundaries today as well as a rest into eternity. Give us courage to stand and not waver when faced with overwhelming situations.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 131: 3

“O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.”

Stopped: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Stopped

Time stopped.

Sun did not set

day of slaughter

enemies destroyed,

that battle

scorched territory

desperate circumstances

endured struggle.

Time began.

Sun set

day of salvation

eternal promise.

Reflection: Battle: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What spiritual and relational battles have you been fighting on your own?

2.     Are you struggling in your own strength or in the Lord’s power?

3.     Is it difficult to trust if the outcome is not immediately visible? What do you do when doubts overwhelm?

4.     Are you willing to do it God’s way—even if the process is painful?

  Share: Have you experienced the Lord fighting for you? How?

Battle: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 10

“The sun stopped in mid-heaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded a human voice; for the Lord fought for Israel.” Joshua 10: 13-14

Because the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel within the land, five kingdoms allied to attack them. Because of the attack Gibeon cried out to Joshua for aid. And because Joshua turned to the Lord in prayer the sun stopped in mid-heaven and the battle completed. Because the Lord fought for Israel.

There are many trials in our lives when we wonder when the release might come and sometimes we may forget that some battles can be won in a day—if we are in prayer and the Lord fights the battle Himself.

Whether an immediate need or long term, there can be no permanent victory apart from the Lord’s presence. And often we are not willing to wait for His full answer but jump into a skirmish on our own. And then days—weeks—even years later the sin, the enemy, returns in fuller force than ever before.

Ephesians 6: 10-20 gives us the means and the reminder that God’s armor is ready for daily covering for us as well today. That the danger lurks unseen as well as seen and we need His covering—just as Israel did—that we might be able to resist on that evil day and stand firm.

“Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.”

Lord, please help us to remember that whether the battle is stretched over time or when time stands still, there is no completed victory unless in Your power. Give us courage to stand and fight when you say. And only trust in Your plans no matter how extraordinary.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 130:5 & 7

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.”

Belief: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Belief

Although they did not

know themselves this

God of Israel they

believed completely

His word would succeed

chose to become slaves

in His house of worship

to live as servants

than attempt rebellion

so sure of victory they

entered into protection

by promised words.

Reflection Unknown: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How often do you think others evaluate who God is based on our actions and our words?

2.     In what ways can our forgetfulness to seek His counsel affect long-term commitments we make in error?

3.     Is there any way back from impulsive promises that will keep our integrity with the Lord?

4.     How willing are we to do the most menial task if it will keep us in the Lord’s presence?

5.     Why do you think the Lord seemed to accept the Gibeonites actions of guile?

Share: Has another Christian’s actions ever caused you to mistrust the Lord?