The Silent Warfare of Standing Still
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
"The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." – Exodus 14:14
Moses and the story of the exodus of God’s people demonstrate so many spiritual levels of deliverance and healing that, to me, it is valuable for understanding the character of God in setting people free.
Maybe you are in a battle for someone or something and are exhausted because you have been doing most of it on your own, forgetting that God goes before you to prepare the victory.
When you know the character of God, you know that He does not take us so far without entering the promise or birthing the purpose. You are pregnant with purpose. God put purpose in you at the time of conception. Your purpose begins with surrendering to Jesus Christ and making Him your Lord, and then advances into your calling.
Sometimes we have gone as far as we can go in our own strength. It is at this point, when we have done all we can do, that we simply stand. We stand in faith.
We stand knowing that God is good, and we will see the salvation of the Lord. Warfare is not always about swinging a sword; sometimes, warfare is in the silence of faith and assurance in the One who brought you to the war.
Standing still does not mean being passive. It is a posture of surrender and yet a posture of faith as we wait on the orders from the Lord.
If God says go, we go, and if He says stand, we stand. It is His battle if He has brought us to it. If the devil challenges us, then we are called to fight. We don’t lie down and get whipped, but rather we resist all temptation and cause the devil to flee.
Obedience and resistance are weapons of warfare. We resist with the command of the Lord.
God won’t fight for rebellion. He fights for righteousness. A righteous man or woman is heard by the Lord. Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft and goes against obedience.
When God Fights for His People
There are several accounts of God fighting for His people. We see it first when Moses brings the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was to step up to the enemy, Pharaoh, in faith that God would do exactly as He said. Moses had no courage and no faith in himself, but he did have a burning bush experience that moved him to obedience.
God fought with signs and wonders, bringing Pharaoh to his knees. God allowed Pharaoh's resistance so that He could demonstrate His power and love.
When King Jehoshaphat was facing the enemies of God, he cried out:
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." – 2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV
There was no way in the natural that the Israelites could defeat the Moabites and Ammonites with the size of their army. God’s response was:
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you… Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:17 NKJV
Jehoshaphat bowed his head, and all Judah bowed before the Lord, worshiping Him.
There are times when we only need to stand in faith and see the right hand of God take down our enemies. Positioning ourselves, standing still (in faith) and seeing the saving hand of God on our lives is possible for those who believe.
Enemies That Attack the Believer
Sickness, disease, depression, poverty, and many other things are not our friends. They are enemies. When they have come upon us, and we don't see a way to beat them, there are remedies from God that we can apply by faith. Other times, we simply wait upon the Lord, knowing He will strengthen us and renew us.
When the prophet Jeremiah was called, God warned him that the people would fight against him, but they would not prevail. “For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.”
What Prevents God From Fighting for Us
Sin – God will be against us and not for us if we are in sin.
Pride – God resists the prideful but gives grace to the humble.
Disobedience – doing your will over God’s will is iniquity and idolatry.
Rebellion – defiant disobedience, which God considers as bad as witchcraft.
Self-righteousness – believing you have no need to be taught or to submit.
Self-pity – feeling sorry for yourself will cause God to correct you.
Things were really bad for the people of Israel, and they treated Jeremiah with contempt. He had initially received his calling with fervor and fire, but then he was repeatedly rejected. Jeremiah cried out:
“Why is my pain perpetual… Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream?” – Jeremiah 15:18 NKJV
God responded with correction and promise:
“If you return, then I will bring you back… I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall… They shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail… For I am with you to save you and deliver you.” – Jeremiah 15:19–21 NKJV
Things became very dark for this prophet. It wasn’t uncommon for prophets to be rejected; it is the same today. But a prophet of the Lord must not give in to the temptation to quit, to think they are alone, or to pull back with self-pity and fear. Neither should a follower of Jesus.
Elijah believed he was so alone that there were no more prophets, and he even wished to die.
Self-pity for anyone will eventually lead to depression, and then praise will go. The battle must be turned from self to kingdom. Turning up the praise turns down the heaviness. A garment of praise is exchanged for a spirit of heaviness.
Why We Stand While We Wait
It is for this reason—praise—that we can stand while we wait on the Lord. Jesus responds to faith and boldness. Fear, doubt, and unbelief will bring rebuke. We must be corrected when we stand on a field opposite God.
“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 and “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” – Lamentations 3:25
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for fighting for me and preparing a way for victory in every battle. On the days I cannot do another thing, help me to stand. When it looks like I am defeated, show me Your strength. On the days I am overwhelmed and overrun with fear and worry, help me to be encouraged because You are with me. In Jesus name, Amen
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