Sitting in the window of my office is a sign that reads
be strong and courageous Joshua 1:9
And right beside it another that reads:
“But first pray.”
Please notice that the word “be” is not capitalized, as though the one creating the sign knew that we often enter into courage when we are not feeling very courageous! The part that draws my attention today is the smaller sign that reminds me, "But first pray."
Real courage does not come from us. It comes from God. It is through prayer that we gain access to the courage only God can provide. I don’t know what fears you are facing today, but I do know that prayer is the answer!
If you, too, are one of God’s intercessors, then you have come face to face with fear within the one you are interceding for in prayer. Many prayer requests stem from fear. Fear for provision, fear for health, fear for the next step to take and fear that if they take that next step it will not be the right one!
We hear the fear in their voices and we see it upon their faces. Then something amazing happens when we listen and intercede for them. We see fear begin to ebb away and peace take its place. When we intercede for someone and ask the Lord to remove their fear, the Lord replaces their fear with strength. His strength is what gives them the courage to get up and walk out the door!
Prayer connects us to God. Intercession allows us to help connect someone else to God. Once we are connected to the Lord God Almighty, it is then that his strength flows into us like electricity in a charged wire. When we are filled with God’s strength, we find a courage to continue in life that we did not and could not find on our own.
If you’ve ever felt the ground shake beneath your feet due to circumstances in your life that you never wanted to happen, then you know we stand in faith when we are filled with the courage of the Lord. God commands us to be strong and courageous. But first pray, for as an intercessor, you know God will answer.
By Jacqui, One of God’s Intercessors
