Called & Anointed Week 3 Devotions (With Scripture)
Monday, October 2, 2023 - Read 1 Samuel 17:45-47: 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Physically speaking, Goliath was a formidable foe. Standing nine-foot-nine he towered above everyone. Wearing armor weighing 125 pounds and carrying a spear with a point like a sharpened bowling ball, the armies of Israel had every reason to fear this mighty warrior. But David knew something the others did not. He knew that the Spirit of God was with Him and that “the battel is the Lord’s.” What giant are you facing today? Take heart, for “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - Read 2 Chronicles 20:5-9: 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’”
Faced with impending war as a vast army approached Jerusalem, King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord in prayer. He confirmed his faith in God, acknowledging His sovereignty over all nations. He remembered God’s faithfulness in previous battles and then humbled himself before the One who “saves.” The God of Jehoshaphat remains upon the throne of grace today. He’s ready to receive your humble prayers and grant you mercy and grace in your time of need. Will you not seek the Lord in prayer for whatever challenge you may be facing today?
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - Read 2 Chronicles 20:14-17: 14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. . . . 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
“Stand firm.” “Do not be afraid.” “Do not be discouraged.” “For the battle is not yours, but God’s . . . and the Lord will be with you.” The promise of God’s presence breathes life and hopeand confidence into our spirit as we face the challenges of life. After seeking the Lord in prayer, Jehoshaphat received this message of deliverance, empowering him to stand firm and face his challenge head on. May God give you the grace, strength, and courage to do the same.
Thursday, October 5, 2023 - Read 2 Chronicles 20:20-27: "20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. . . . 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
God’s battle plan is unconventional. Rather than sending soldiers to face the invading army, God commands Jehoshaphat to send his choir. Rather than arming themselves with spears and swords, Israel arms itself with praise and worship singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” So, how do you fight your battles? Do you wage war like the rest of the world, or do you put your confidence in the God who delivers and saves? Why not raise a hallelujah today in the presence of your enemy? Why not make your weapon a melody of praise today?
Friday, October 6, 2023 - Read Zechariah 4:6: 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Our battle 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 in the heavenly realms.” That’s why we must put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. As you face the challenges of life today, remember that it is “not by might nor by power,” but by the Spirit of God at work in and through you. Seek the Lord in prayer today and fight your battles with praise.
Monday, October 2, 2023 - Read 1 Samuel 17:45-47: 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Physically speaking, Goliath was a formidable foe. Standing nine-foot-nine he towered above everyone. Wearing armor weighing 125 pounds and carrying a spear with a point like a sharpened bowling ball, the armies of Israel had every reason to fear this mighty warrior. But David knew something the others did not. He knew that the Spirit of God was with Him and that “the battel is the Lord’s.” What giant are you facing today? Take heart, for “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - Read 2 Chronicles 20:5-9: 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’”
Faced with impending war as a vast army approached Jerusalem, King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord in prayer. He confirmed his faith in God, acknowledging His sovereignty over all nations. He remembered God’s faithfulness in previous battles and then humbled himself before the One who “saves.” The God of Jehoshaphat remains upon the throne of grace today. He’s ready to receive your humble prayers and grant you mercy and grace in your time of need. Will you not seek the Lord in prayer for whatever challenge you may be facing today?
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - Read 2 Chronicles 20:14-17: 14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. . . . 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
“Stand firm.” “Do not be afraid.” “Do not be discouraged.” “For the battle is not yours, but God’s . . . and the Lord will be with you.” The promise of God’s presence breathes life and hopeand confidence into our spirit as we face the challenges of life. After seeking the Lord in prayer, Jehoshaphat received this message of deliverance, empowering him to stand firm and face his challenge head on. May God give you the grace, strength, and courage to do the same.
Thursday, October 5, 2023 - Read 2 Chronicles 20:20-27: "20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. . . . 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
God’s battle plan is unconventional. Rather than sending soldiers to face the invading army, God commands Jehoshaphat to send his choir. Rather than arming themselves with spears and swords, Israel arms itself with praise and worship singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” So, how do you fight your battles? Do you wage war like the rest of the world, or do you put your confidence in the God who delivers and saves? Why not raise a hallelujah today in the presence of your enemy? Why not make your weapon a melody of praise today?
Friday, October 6, 2023 - Read Zechariah 4:6: 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Our battle 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 in the heavenly realms.” That’s why we must put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. As you face the challenges of life today, remember that it is “not by might nor by power,” but by the Spirit of God at work in and through you. Seek the Lord in prayer today and fight your battles with praise.