datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 3 (11/3) is Luke 11:3

    “Give us day by day our daily bread.” – Luke 11:3
    The PRAYER FOR BASIC PROVISIONS

    Luke 11:3 is part of what we call the Lord’s Prayer but is really the “Disciple’s Prayer” as the prayer that Jesus taught was for the disciples!  You may recall that in Luke 11:1 that as He was praying ONE of His DISCIPLES asked that He teach them to pray!  What followed are some of the best instructions a person can ever learn when it comes to PRAYER!   I suspect many of you can quote by memory but just in case this is what Jesus taught:

    2  So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven.
    3  Give us day by day our daily bread.
    4  And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

    When Jesus taught in Matthew 6 He had as the conclusion “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

    Our verse to date on November 3 (11/3) is considered the hinge verse of the “Lord’s Prayer” as it moves us from a time of adoration to God to now a time of asking for our needs.  In verse 2 you find the word “YOUR” 3 times.  In that verse, we adore and praise God.   There is a spirit of submission as we want His kingdom and His will accomplished.  

    Having focused on the adoration of the Father and the agenda of heaven Jesus teaches to ASK for the things needed on EARTH, things the HEAVENLY FATHER provides.  The things we most need are the provision of daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and protection.  

    I would like for us to consider that in asking for day by day our daily bread Jesus is instructing us to ask for the MOST BASIC of needs.  We need food and water to live.  While we might consider this too small for our Father in heaven, I like to say that while there is NOTHING TOO BIG TO ASK of GOD, there is nothing TOO SMALL to ask of GOD!   After all, He takes care of a sparrow, and He keeps count of the hairs on your head.   YOU must know He is interested in every detail of your life, down to the smallest detail.  It is not petty to ask Him to provide the most basic of needs for your life.  He is expecting you to ASK!

    I also want you to consider that the prayer request here is a prayer of FAITH.  He did not tell us to ask the Heavenly Father for a year’s supply of food.  He teaches us to be DAILY RELIANT on Him. Asking day by day for daily bread brings the immediate reminder that you will be needing to ask DAY by DAY for forgiveness; guidance; and PROTECTION!  

    I also find that as I pray for God to provide for my basic needs I am more grateful of His work in my life.  Asking God to give prompts a spirit of thanksgiving.   The prayer request allows me to reflect on yesterday’s blessings and acknowledge my gratitude for His gracious provisions! 

    In closing, I would like to share one of the greatest “TIPS” I have received for developing a strong walk with the Lord.  Dr. Elmer Towns challenges us to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” as the first thing we did upon waking up.  He taught us to let our first thoughts be of adoration to God and then asking Him to give us what we needed for the day!  This tip has served me well and I believe it will serve you well! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 3 (11/3) is Luke 11:3. It says, “Give us day by day our daily bread.”

    Continue Strong asking your Heavenly Father for daily needs!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 2 (11/2) is John 11:2 

    “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped
    His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.” – John 11:2
    A Display of Extravagant LOVE for Jesus

    While John 11 is the story about the sickness and the death of Lazarus and then how Jesus brought him back from the grave John interestingly found it necessary when introducing the sisters of Lazarus to tell about Mary’s display of extravagant love toward Jesus.  The full story is told in John 12 but John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believed the reader needed to know about the beautiful action that Mary had done.  It seems like John believed anytime anyone hears about Mary of Bethany they need to think about her display of extravagant love for Jesus.  And what a way to be remembered!!!

    In pondering the actions described by John about Mary allow me to point out just a couple of things.  First, notice the statement that she “wiped His feet with her hair.”  There are three stories in the Bible about Mary of Bethany and did you know that in each story you find Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus?   In Luke 10:38-42 Jesus came to dinner at the home of Mary and Martha.  Jesus will start TEACHING and Mary LEFT the kitchen to SIT at His feet to LISTEN and  LEARN.  It was a pleasant day and Mary took advantage of the opportunity to store up knowledge about Jesus!

    Later in John 11, we find her again at the feet of Jesus.  This time the day is painful and has been very perplexing as she and her sister had informed Jesus that Lazarus, whom He loved, was sick yet Lazarus died. One can imagine how disappointing it must have been as they BELIEVED Jesus COULD heal Lazarus and they KNEW He WOULD heal Lazarus.  Yet Lazarus died.  When Jesus did arrive Mary went to His feet and there wept.  One can see her TRUSTING Jesus though she did not understand.  On this painful, perplexing day, she LEANED on Jesus and told Him how hurt she was.  Jesus would weep as He saw her tears. 

    Moving to John 12 (and back to John 11:2) we see Mary one more time at the feet of Jesus.  This story of her anointing Jesus with fragrant oil is told in Matthew and Mark.  John tells her she goes to His feet to wipe them in a beautiful act of humility and servanthood, yes, of love!  John 12 as well as Matthew and Mark will tell that the anointment was no ordinary anoint but rather some of the best money could buy.  It was valued at a year’s wages!!!!!

    Her expression of love was, without doubt, EXPENSIVE and EXTRAVAGANT. But for Mary of Bethany, Jesus deserved nothing but the VERY BEST.  And even though the disciples thought it was a waste Jesus commended her and paid her one of the highest honors in that wherever the gospel is preached Mary’s story of extravagant love is to be shared as well. (I fulfill His words with this devotional.)

    May I ask you if you are giving Jesus your best?  
    May I ask you if you are doing something that is extravagant – YES – appearing to be EXCESSIVE for Jesus?  
    Do you worry that family and friends might say THAT IS TOO MUCH?

    Years ago I read a message about Mary of Bethany from Chuck Swindoll and he gave the challenge to BREAK A VASE for Jesus!   Don’t hold back!  After all, He did not hold back.  Talk about extravagant love, He gave His life as a demonstration of His love. 

    Friends, you can never do TOO MUCH for Jesus! 

    To the one who went all in for us, we should go all out for Him. Follow the example of Mary of Bethany!
     
    Verse to DATE the Word on November 2 (11/2) is John 11:2. It says, “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.”

    Would it not be great that every time someone said your name they thought of something you did for Jesus?

    Continue Strong displaying EXTRAVAGANT Love for Jesus!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 1 (11/1) is Ecclesiastes 11:1

    “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will
    find it after many days.” – Ecclesiastes 11:1
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 1 (11/1) is Ecclesiastes 11:1. Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

    NO RISK MEANS NO RETURN

    Ecclesiastes 11:1 is one of those head-scratching verses that you, probably like me, read and WONDER what does that mean???   I read it and think that for one to cast their bread of water means their bread is going to get wet and SINK.   And you will not find it later!!  Fish might find it, but you are not going to find it. 

    Pondering the verse though brings a meaning of TAKING A RISK.  The verse speaks of a ship loaded with grain and is in a safe and secure harbor.  While it is nice to have a ship loaded with grain and nice to have it in a safe place SHIPS were not made for HARBORS!  So the writer employs the captain to LAUNCH OUT!  Take the loaded ship of grain to a new market and see what you can get for it!

    For each of us, I remind that we fit into the parable to the talents found in Matthew 25.  We each have received talents and we have to decide to USE them.  Using them is risky.  I like to say INVOLVEMENT EXPOSES FLAWS.  We just might FAIL.  It is worth remembering that the parable tells of commendation for those who TRIED and is very condemning to the one who DID NOT TRY.   

    Check these very scary verses out:
    Matthew 25:24  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,  25  so I was afraid,and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26  But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”

    The master was angry because the servant was AFRAID.  He called the one who would not take a risk wicked and lazy.   What an indictment!!  

    In applying Ecclesiastes 11:1 I use the familiar NO RISK NO RETURN.  I also use a quote from a NASCAR driver who said, “IF YOU DON’T TAKE A CHANCE YOU DON’T HAVE A CHANCE.”

    Friend, “IF YOU DON’T TAKE A CHANCE YOU DON’T HAVE A CHANCE!!!”

    What is God prompting you to TRY?  Let today’s verse for the day motivate you to TAKE A CHANCE!!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 1 (11/1) is Ecclesiastes 11:1. It says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

    Continue Strong sailing your ship (life) outside the safe harbor!  Take a chance!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 31 (10/31) is 1 Corinthians 10:31

    “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
    do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
    Sole Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone!
     
    The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with the question, “What is the chief end of man?”  The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”  The answer to the all-important question finds its basis in 1 Corinthians 10:31. 

    This is the verse of verses for the filter for all behavior.  Every thought along with every word and every action is to go through 1 Corinthians 10:31.  

    As we ponder this essential verse for life we see the word “WHATEVER.” 
    That covers any and everything!  It covers even the smallest of things like eating and drinking to the larger things like what one does with their life.     

    The next word is YOU.  Whatever YOU do.  Remember that the first person you lead is YOU so YOU are to use this filter verse so whatever YOU DO is for the glory of God.

    Another keyword is ALL.  ALL MEANS ALL AND THAT IS ALL ALL MEANS! Whatever you decide to do you are to do ALL to the GLORY OF GOD!! 

    The last key words of the verse are GLORY OF GOD.  Each and every action is to GLORIFY GOD.  To glorify God is to HONOR, PLEASE, and/or EXALT.  

    This one verse when applied will make a huge difference in how you think, act, and live.  It will keep you from sinning as we know that is not glorifying to God.  When we sin we fall short of the glory of God,  It will keep us humble as even the good we do is not for you but for God!!

    It should be your practice to ask the question as you consider any and all actions IS THIS GLORIFYING TO GOD?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 31 (10/31) is 1 Corinthians 10:31. It says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

    Sole Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone!

    Continue Strong glorifying the Lord in EVERYTHING 

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 30 (10/30) is Mark 10:30

    (v 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel) will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” – Mark 10:30
    The COST and the REWARDS of FOLLOWING JESUS

    Mark 10 tells of the Apostle Peter evaluating the decision to FOLLOW JESUS.  In Mark 10:28 Peter said to Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you!”  This statement contrasts the previous story of the RICH YOUNG RULER who was unwilling to give up his riches to FOLLOW JESUS.  

    The response of Jesus to Peter is one that clarifies the cost but also the rewards of FOLLOWING JESUS.  Following always involves LEAVING.  Often the one leaving will be leaving what one does and has as well as many family members and friends. To leave is, well, hard.  Peter states a truth about his life in which he left fishing for fish to become a fisher of men.  He knew his life would never be the same when he decided to follow Jesus.  He had left everything.

    With Peter stating the truth about his life Jesus now states the truth about what one can expect to receive when they leave the known for the unknown in following Him.  He tells Peter (and tells you and me) that no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.  

    As we unpack this truth, we really have several truths here as Jesus tells of what one receives in this present age and in the age to come.  As far as leaving family and friends and even occupation Jesus says one is going to find a richness in new relationships that will seem as if one has hundreds of mothers and brothers and sisters.  

    Some of you reading this can immediately give testimony of how this has played out in your life.  I know I can!!  

    He also stays on point about the cost of following Him as it will mean that while there is the richness of Christian fellowship there will be the hatred of the world.   One has to love that with that sobering thought of receiving persecution, He immediately reminds us of our future ETERNAL LIFE in the age to come!  

    While FOLLOWING JESUS is costly it is also very REWARDING!!   You don’t lose with leaving!  

    And as far as persecution goes the best the enemy can do is scare you with heaven!    
    Friends, you will not lose in leaving to follow Jesus!  The one leaving will also be receiving!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 30 (10/30) is Mark 10:30.  Mark 10:30 says (29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel) will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.”

    Continue Strong knowing He takes care of His followers.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 29 (10/29) is John 10:29

    “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one
    is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” – John 10:29
    Safely Secure in the FATHER’S STRONG HAND

    As one reads the Gospel of John one is going to learn about the FATHER. John 1:18 tells us that one of the purposes for Jesus’ coming was to reveal the Father. 

    Here in John 10:29, we learn of the POWER of the Father. One of the pictures of our great salvation is that of being placed into the Father’s PROTECTIVE hand!! Salvation has been PROVIDED by God and is PROTECTED by God!! We are safely secure in the strong and mighty HAND OF GOD as He is GREATER than all.  He is more powerful than ALL!! That means no person and no angel and indeed no demon, nor the very Devil is strong enough to pry us from the hand of God!  

    May this verse and the Apostle Paul’s declaration in Romans 8:38-39 assure us that what is promised to us will be fulfilled.  Remember what Paul said?  Romans 8:38 says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    I hope you are persuaded!  What a Savior! What a Salvation!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 29 (10/29) is John 10:29.  It says, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

    Continue Strong with Strong Assurance 
    And remember to DATE the WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 28 (10/28) is John 10:28

    “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
    shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” – John 10:28
    SAVED, Safe, and Secure in the Hands of Jesus

    “I give them eternal life!” What a promise!  Do you recall those precious words of John 3:16? John 3:16 tells us that God sent His Son that whosoever believes in Him would have eternal life and not perish!!! God sent us a Savior, His very own SON.  He gave His very own Son so that through Him WE could have eternal life. Jesus Christ came to give His life in order to give us life, here now and hereafter forever.  WHAT A SAVIOR!  Because of Him, we are SAVED!

    “And they shall never perish.”  What a 2nd promise!  SAVED and SAFE! As a sinner, we completely deserve to perish yet as born-again believers we have the promise that this will never happen to us.  Like the Apostle Paul, we can make the statement “To die is gain!”   

    If however you are reading this and you have not been born again I plead with you to do so.  While a person should not live in fear, I would tell you to live in fear as Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.   2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”   Do not put off accepting the Lord for presently you will perish in your sins!

    “Neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand!” What a 3rd promise! SAVED! SAFE! SECURE!! We are as secure as the strength of His hands thus we are completely secure in the hands of Jesus! Then to add to this security Jesus tells us that His Father is involved in holding us secure.  Notice John 10:29 as it reveals, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  

    No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:38 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    Ponder and praise God today for your SALVATION that has been provided by and then protected by our incredible, wonderful Good Shepherd!

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 28 (10/28) is John 10:28. It says, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

    Jesus Christ came to give His life in order to give us life, here and hereafter.

    Continue Strong knowing you are SAVED! SAFE! SECURE for all eternity!
    And remember to DATE the Word

    PS – if you are finding the DATE the Word devotional a blessing, we encourage you to forward it to friends and family members.   Thank you!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 27 (10/27) is Proverbs 10:27

    “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years
    of the wicked will be shortened.” – Proverbs 10:27
    Getting the most out of your Days

    From the very beginning of Proverbs to the very end one of the central themes of Proverbs is the FEAR OF THE LORD. For instance, Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction,” and then in Proverbs 31:30 we find the virtuous woman is known and praised for fearing the Lord. The fear of the Lord is taught as the way to experience a blessed life here on earth.   Occasionally it is contrasted with the fool or with the wicked as it is here in Proverbs 10:27.  Most of the time we find the BENEFITS that come from having a right relationship with God in which He is acknowledged as God and one stands in AWE of Him offering adoration and obedience.  

    In contrast is to have a wrong relationship with God.  Here we see the WICKED who do what is WRONG in God’s sight.  They have no desire to obey what He says. There is no fear of the Lord with them.

    One can do a study of both those who fear the Lord and those who are wicked and quickly find that life is very different.  Here the one who fears the Lord receives prolonged days.  The idea is they GET MORE OUT OF THE 24 hours.  While the wicked are in constant fear of being caught for something they did and having to cover up things they did they are missing out on life.  Those living right with God will not have perfect lives but they will not be reaping the consequences of wickedness.  

    One of my favorite verses about the fear of the Lord is Proverbs 19:23.  It says, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

    The wicked do not have a satisfying life.  For example (and these are but a few as the word “wicked” is mentioned 86 times in Proverbs and 85 times in Psalms.)
    Proverbs 3:33  The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked
    Proverbs 4:19  The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
    Proverbs 11:5  …. But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
    Proverbs 11:21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; 
    Proverbs 13:25  The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
    Proverbs 15:9  The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.

    And I can go on and on.  The lifestyle of the wicked may be pleasurable and profitable for a time, for a moment, but it is only for a short time.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 27 (10/27) is Proverbs 10:27.  It says, “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.”

    God’s Word appeals to us to choose to FEAR THE LORD, choosing to fear Him as if our very life depended on it, because it does.

    Continue Strong fearing the Lord,
    And remember to DATE the WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 26 (10/26) is 1 Samuel 10:26

    “And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him,
    whose hearts God had touched.” – 1 Samuel 10:26
    BEING VALIANT FOR GOD with a HEART FOR GOD

    Any conversation about King Saul is almost always going to be negative.  After all, he is one of the few who ever gets the admission from the Lord that He “regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:35c) As King of Israel he is known for acting foolishly and being disobedient toward God. (1 Samuel 13:13) 

    Yes, King Saul is not one to look at or study for WHAT ONE SHOULD DO.  While being chosen to defeat the Philistines (1 Samuel 9:16) he failed to fulfill his stated purpose.  Saul was supposed to be an ANSWER TO PRAYER for dealing with the Philistines but in the end, the Philistines defeated him.  

    However, even with all the negatives, we find that at his beginning he had VALIANT men with him, men in whom God had touched their hearts.  Those two descriptions are very noteworthy and admirable. We should want to be known as VALIANT men and women and men and women whose HEARTS have been TOUCHED/influenced by the Lord.  Let’s look a little closer at these two descriptions. 

    VALIANT. It is a word you will find 29 times in the NKJV.   It means “possessing or showing courage or determination.”  BRAVE!  No backing down.  No quitting! 
    .
    Another instance of the word “valiant” associated with King Saul is found in 1 Samuel 14:52. It says, “Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any VALIANT man, he took him for himself.”  

    Give Saul credit here that he did know what to look for in finding soldiers!

    The word “valiant” is also found in the HALL OF FAITH passage. In Hebrews 11:34  we read of where people of faith “quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

    Our verse tells us about VALIANT men and it tells us about men whose hearts God had touched.  This means they had a heart that God could guide, that God could influence.  Their hearts belonged to God as opposed to the false gods around them.  

    So, what type of person are you?  Would family and friends, associates, and neighbors describe you as VALIANT?  Are you one who is not afraid of the battles against the evil forces of this world?  Would you be described as one whose heart belongs to the Lord?  

    I challenge you to live and act in a way that a descriptive word for your character is VALIANT.  May you be known as a man or woman of VALOR!!  And let there be no question that your heart has been touched by God!

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 26 (10/26) is 1 Samuel 10:26. It says, “And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.”

    Continue STRONG as a person of VALOR!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 25 (10/25) is Joshua 10:25

    “Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be 
    strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your
    enemies against whom you fight.” – Joshua 10:25
    FIGHTING the good fight BY FAITH, NOT FEAR!

    Joshua calls God’s people to live lives of faith rather than to live in fear.  Yes, there is an enemy and there are enemies and yes, there are battles to fight.  Rather than letting fear paralyze us we fight by faith, trusting, and obeying God.  We are not to be weak but strong.  We are not to be cowardly but courageous.  We are not to be full of fear but full of faith!  We are not to be fearful but faithful. 

    I find it helpful to occasionally read over some of the verses about fighting and how we are to fight the good fight.  For instance:
    Exodus 14:14  “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
    Deuteronomy 1:30  ‘The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
    Deuteronomy 20:4  ‘For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’
    Nehemiah 4:14  And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
    Nehemiah 4:20  “Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
    Psalms 35:1  O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.
    1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
    2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
    2 Chronicles 20:15  And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
    Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.

    Just as Joshua was to fight by faith without fear so too are we.   Here are a few more verses to be reminded to BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS, FULL OF FAITH!
    Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
    Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
    Joshua 8:1 “Now the LORD said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.”

    I trust these verses encourage you to fight the good fight by faith.  Remember from Psalm 56:3 that “Whenever you are afraid, that you will trust in God.  
    Psalms 56:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

    So today, obey and do what He has called you to do, trusting that where He guides, He provides. Let today be a day of “by faith” as opposed to a day of “I was afraid!”  
    Verse to DATE the Word on October 25 (10/25) is Joshua 10:25. It says, “Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

    Continue Strong knowing He goes before You!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!