Jericho was a mighty city, a stronghold with securely shut walls reaching toward the sky. In fact, some archeological evidence suggests there were actually two walls around the city.
I wonder if Joshua thought, How are we going to conquer this one, Lord? I am mighty with my sword, and I know you were faithful to pull back those waters of the Jordan as you did in the Red Sea. But walls? This challenge seems bigger than I am.
What walls are before you, brave heart?
What challenge seems beyond your ability?
Is there a challenge in your marriage? Your career? Your children? Your finances? Your purpose?
Sometimes when we face challenges doubt can begin to dance in our head and we might have thoughts of drawing back into our wilderness instead of pressing forward into our Promised Land.
Don’t you dare! Whatever wall you are facing, God will help you tear them down … but you must use spiritual weapons.
The Power of Spiritual Weapons
It took faith for the Israelites to pick up trumpets instead of weapons when God instructed the Israelites to march around Jericho. But they chose to do it God’s way—and he gave them the victory.
God commanded them to sound the trumpets for six days. On the seventh day, they were to give a shout.
In the Old Testament, trumpets were used to praise God (Numbers 10:2-10; Psalm 98:6, 150:3).
Praise is a spiritual weapon God has given us to face our walls with faith.
Never underestimate the power of praising God BEFORE seeing our walls fall. This biblical principal requires great courage and conviction. In order to lift up our arms in praise, we have to move beyond our feelings and circumstances into the rheum of faith.
Thanking God for past faithfulness is valuable – but it takes mountain moving faith to speak praise in advance of what God will do. Our Nourish Scripture gives us some practical steps to put this powerful spiritual discipline into practice.
- Ask God for spiritual vision in order that you might see the truth in your situation. The first command God gave Joshua was to change his thinking. What Joshua saw with his earthly eyes was a heavily guarded city and a trained army of strong fighting men. But the Lord asked him to see it with spiritual eyes: “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands” (Joshua 6:2).
- Shift your focus. Worship and praise makes God our focus. Complaining makes our challenge our focus. Worship and praise get your mouth and your thinking off your circumstances and in line with God. The more we meditate on who God is through praise and worship, the more he reveals his character to us repeatedly. Praise will give you a heavenly perspective on your situation. Praise and worship announce to the enemy that you are aligning yourself with the Lord. It’s your victory cry!
- Speak words—life giving words. I am not talking about denying your walls. I am talking about making a decision to believe in God’s goodness and faithfulness for the future.
Lord, I thank you that while I cannot see the answer to this problem, you promise in your Word you will direct my paths and give me my next steps (Proverbs 3:4-6). God, I want to thank you in advance that while I just don’t see how my marriage will mend that you are the Mountain Mover and will move in mighty ways on my behalf. I praise you that the Holy Spirit is here to counsel me and give me strength beyond my ability. Thank you for this problem that is propelling my purpose forward by pushing me to depend on you. I love how you will use walls to build my faith and prepare me for the next battle.
- Remain steadfast. The Israelites continued to follow God’s plan of attack even though the walls did not immediately fall. The prevalence of instant gratification in our culture conditions us to expect immediate results. But God’s ways often require patient obedience. For seven days or seven years, keep your praise strong:“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
To Sound a Victory Cry, Be Persistent in Your Praise
Often, I am tempted to stop fighting God’s way and take matters into my own hands when I don’t see my walls fall right away. You might find yourself feeling the same way, but I encourage you to be persistent in your praise!
On the seventh day, the harvest came: the walls came down with a shout from the Israelites! God can take down your walls too!
Yes, brave heart, there will be battles in the Promised Land. But praise God! He has given us the spiritual weapons to face them with his strength. ONWARD!
Nourish Scripture: Joshua 5:13-6
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
