Fighting on your own? Fighting with God?

Often times in sports, the coach or one of the players will give a pep talk to the team, especially if it’s  a big game. 

One thing I doubt has ever happened is for a priest to come up and give the pep talk.

But that’s exactly what God told the people to do before a big battle.  He said,

When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.

He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:2-4)

If anyone were to give a pep talk to an army, you’d think it would be the general or some high ranking officer. 

But here, God tells the priest to do it.  Why?

I think the main reason is to remind them where their strength comes from. 

So often, when we find ourselves facing a big problem in our lives, our first instinct is to try to face it on our own.  To try to tackle it on our own strength.  And it’s only if we find ourselves being overwhelmed that we turn to God. 

I know I tend to do that.

But God tells the people to put their focus on him from the very beginning.  To remember that we don’t have to go into this battle alone.  That he is with us and he will give us victory.

How about you? 

As you tackle this life, do you look to God and his strength?  Or do you turn towards yourself first. 

When we focus on ourselves, it inevitably leads to pride.  A pride that only tends to be broken when we get overwhelmed, at which point fear takes over. 

Neither is good.

So don’t wait for things to fall apart in your life before you look to God. 

Instead, look to him at he beginning of each day, and put your confidence in him. 

As you do, you’ll find victory in him.