Exodus 17: 8-13 ‘Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 

Have you ever felt tired, frustrated, nowhere to turn, in one word, overwhelmed? When this happens, what do you normally do?  Who do you normally turn to?  What kind of support base you have?

As Christians we are in warfare.  The enemy is seeking to test us to our limits and he is trying on every end to frustrate, destroy and devour us. Therefore he is constantly trying to make us feel overwhelmed.  He will do this by attacking our characters, our children, our jobs, our relationships, to name a few, as well as put barriers to force us into a corner.  If this is happening to you right now do not be alarmed, do not panic.   Years ago I heard this statement from a GI Joe cartoon “Knowing is half the battle”.  God wants to us to know and to remind us from Ephesians 6:12 that “our struggle[wrestle] is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil [wickedness] in the heavenly realms”.  However, we are on the side of the Creator of the universe, heaven and earth who from everlasting to everlasting is God.  

God wants to grant us divine insight so that we can be aware of our enemy and his game plan as outlined in 1 John 2: 16:-“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world”.  When we have been granted divine insight and depth of knowledge to see satan’s strategies, we can tap into the mind of Christ which empowers us with counter-strategies to fight.   What are some of the counter-strategies that you have at your disposal?

Firstly, be alert.  If we do not pay attention, then the enemy will creep in on us by gaining a toehole, then a foothole and then a stronghold.  Never let down your guard. Distraction comes on the thought level first, nip it in the bud. Secondly, be mentally prepared for the battle.  There are normally some battles that we have to fight and the designated day will come to fight the battle. We are prepared by God’s Spirit , “for the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”. Moses told Joshua chose some men tomorrow we are going in and I will be in place. Thirdly, be equipped to fight. Do not wait for the battle to prepare; it might be too late or fatal then.  Do you know the word of God to counter the darts that are thrown at you?  Dive into the word. Remember Nehemiah when he and the team were building the wall, they had a sword in one hand and building tools in the next.  Fourthly, have a support team who will propel you to victory in the end.  In Exodus 17 we are told that Joshua was fighting the battle but he had a support team on the top of the mountain.  Once Moses’ hands were up towards heaven, God’s people were winning but the moment they were lowered the enemy was in charge.  Aaron and Hur knew that Joshua was counting on them so therefore when Moses’ hands got tired, they did not give up.  They gave him a seat and held up his hands on either side steady until sunset.  Wow.  What a lesson! We need to remember that we are not alone.  We are part of the army of God and we have divine support to overcome.

PRAYER

Father I turn to you knowing that you are my dwelling place and you give me what strategies I need to fight the onslaught of the enemy.  I look to you now for divine insight, love, strength, power and self discipline to face the battles of today.  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen