Proper Conditioning

Daily Reading: Leviticus 26

Scripture Focus: If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then... You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. (Leviticus 26.3, 7-8)

Devotional Thought: Noah is a big boy. He plays football. Defensive line. In a recent game, he burst through the line and blocked a punt - with his chest! His dad told me that he would like to get him into the gym in the off season to build his arm and leg strength. He challenged Noah, "Can you imagine what you could do with that conditioning? Those other boys wouldn't stand a chance!"

As I thought about that, I wondered if God might be saying something similar to us. "Can you imagine what you could do with the proper conditioning?" He tells us in Leviticus 26: "You shall chase your enemies... They shall fall before you... Five of you shall chase a hundred... A hundred of you shall chase ten thousand." We need to put the enemy to flight! With the proper conditioning, our enemies don't stand a chance! Jesus said it like this: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16.18).

Why aren't we seeing that kind of overcoming power?

I believe it is because we lack the proper conditioning.

For the Church, for the believer within the Church, the conditioning and the weapon are one and the same: Prayer! Our prayers break through the enemy’s defenses and scatter darkness, fear, doubt, and despair. Our prayers bring deliverance and hope and freedom.

Let's hit our knees, Church!

Prayer: Father, may my prayers be empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit so that I might to put a hundred to flight! May I this day burst through the enemy lines and see the hand of the Lord bring about a great victory! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalms 111:6-10)