As our days get harder and harder, it is more important than ever to decide who and what we believe in.

In the book of Joshua, we read that Joshua had been successful in leading the children of Israel. Under his leadership, they went from squabbling refugees to a cooperative nation. They learned that victory comes through faith in God and obedience to His word. It did not come through military might or numeric superiority.

After having fought many battles and having experienced many things with his men, Joshua felt the need to bring the people to a point of reflection and decision one last time. In his last recorded public address, he leaves them with both a challenge as well as a self-declaration:

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Following God used to be considered noble and desirable. But society has found a way to villainize faith in God and some even consider it “evil.” Today, we have the same choices: The influence of our current toxic society, or an encounter with the one and only true God of the Bible.

The children of Israel remembered all that God had done for them and they decided to obey the Lord. If you make the personal decision to follow God, it is important for you to obey the word of God. God is always speaking. Are you listening?
Trusting God is also necessary for winning battles. There are many options when it comes to who or what we trust. You can decide to only trust in what you know, in what’s familiar or what is safe, but if you do, you will miss out on experiencing God.

When we trust God and run to Him first for safety and direction, instead of trying to figure out life on our own, there, in His presence, we find safety. It is there we hear His voice; it is there we receive our marching orders and the battle plan. It is there we encounter God.

Sometimes doing the right thing makes us look like fools to those around us. Joshua was asked to fight a battle by marching with trumpets instead of weapons. But God promised that if he followed His instructions, God would give him the victory.
God is promising to fight for you if you would just fear Him instead of man, if you would just trust Him more than you trust anyone or anything else.

I pray that you will choose for yourselves this day to follow God and never allow anyone or anything to keep you from walking with God and running to God.