The Daily Word: Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Joshua 24:1-33
Luke 21:1-28
Psalm 89:38-52
Proverbs 13:20-23
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
‘Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose to make war against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.” – Josh. 24:9
Balak, king of the Moabites, wanted to make war against God’s people. But before he physically started a conflict, he tried to curse Israel. It didn’t work (see verse 10), but the moral of the story for us is this: the battle is won in the spiritual realm before it is won in the physical realm. The battle is won with the tongue before it is won with the sword.
Think about what that means for you! Before Satan launches an all-out attack on your life (relational conflict, physical affliction in the form of sickness, emotional heaviness in the form of depression), he will first try to curse you. If you belong to Jesus his curses won’t work, because no one can curse that which God has already blessed! But here is the catch: even though the enemy can’t curse you, he can try and convince you to curse yourself.
And that is where you must put up your guard. Speak life, and never death. Do not say things like “FML” or “this always happens to me” when bad things happen in your life! It may seem like a small thing – even a joke – but that is the beginning of the enemy’s strategy to “make war” against you.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. – Prov. 18:21
Prayer:
Father, I will not allow the enemy to wage war with me! I will watch my tongue and stand my guard. Satan cannot curse me because God has already blessed me! And what’s more, Satan will not convince me to curse myself. I am covered by the blood of Jesus, and I am safe in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.