daily devotional

God needs your cooperation today. He’s trying to work in your life. He’s trying to pave the way. He’s trying to guide you into his ultimate and best plan, but he needs your to cooperate. there’s one thing we keep doing that hinders god’s work and allows the enemy to gain a foothold. This one thing is something most of us struggle with, without even realizing the danger.

what is it? what are we doing that’s hindering god’s work in our own lives? We keep running our mouths.

In Exodus chapter 14 the Israelites are being chased by the Egyptians. They have every reason to be scared. Every reason to want to turn around and go back. but their instructions are very clear. Verse 14 in the Message translation says “God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!”

If you’re facing a battle right now, understand God wants to fight it for you. He wants to defend you. He’s able to bring victory … but you have a job to do and that job is to shut your face. Let God fight this for you. Take a seat and be silent.

When I’m under attack I have a natural defense … I lash out. Then after I lash out, I like to retell the story to anyone who will listen. Are you the same? We build our defense by talking about it. And did you know when we do, we hinder the VICTORY God has planned for us? He doesn’t need you to lash out. He doesn’t need you to tell everyone your side of the story. What he needs is your cooperation.

Here’s the problem … if we’re busy complaining and telling our side of the story, we’re not praying. The answer is always PRAY about it, not COMPLAIN about it. How often do we seek the opinion of others without first seeking the direction of God?

Did you know your words have the power to steal your peace and your victory? God has a plan to redeem you fully. Every hardship or wrongdoing against you has been seen, he is fully aware, and it will be used for your good, but girl you’ve got to get out of the way! When you lash out in anger, speak out of turn, pipe up with your complaints, your side isn’t being built … understand you’re only giving the enemy ammunition. Satan wants you to be busy fighting so you’re distracted from your mission. Every time you retell the story, every time you engage in the argument, every time you complain about the situation, you’re loading bullets in the weapon pointed directly at YOU.

I promise it is possible to be under attack and still have peace. It is possible to be in the battle and retain your joy. You can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and FEAR NO EVIL because God is with you and he will comfort you. You’re not in this alone! Oh if you could only see God leaning in over you to protect you. If you could only see the angel armies of Heaven on their way to defend you. If you could see it, you’d easily keep that mouth shut. Even though you can’t see it, will you trust it?

Do you trust that God is for you and not against you? If you do, then you know what they’re saying about you has ZERO impact. Who can be against you? NO ONE. Let them talk, you keep your face shut. God wants to fight for you. Victory is yours … If you don’t screw this up. You have one clear instruction here, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.

No complaining, no building up your side of the story, no fighting and arguing, no lashing out. Cooperate with God and let him do the fighting.

I remember a time when there was a personal attack against my family, my team and my ministry. It was harsh. It was unfair. And it was untrue. Everything within me wanted to stand up and defend myself and set the story straight. I woke up one morning totally fed up with the nonsense, fully prepared to tear a new butt from my attackers. As I was typing out my planned defense, I overheard a TD Jakes sermon my husband was listening to. The scripture that day??? Exodus 14:14 “God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouth shut.”

It wasn’t what I wanted to do. Every ounce of my flesh was crying to speak out and put others in their place. To prove myself innocent. To defend my family and my team. To save what we had worked so hard to build. But God was clear. He promised he would fight the battle for me … I just needed to cooperate by shutting my face.

And you know what? He did! I never had to defend myself. My silence eventually silenced my enemies. And with a bit of perspective, I realized I was battling more than confused people who had a twisted story. I was battling the true enemy who knew what God was doing!

Ephesians 6:12 says “For our struggle 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.”

Hey guess what … you can’t fight a spiritual battle with your natural words! This isn’t about what he’s doing or what she’s saying … this is a spiritual battle over eternal impact. You have no idea the battle happening all around you. The enemy knows your potential. Things of tremendous value are at risk here. The only way to fight this is to keep your mouth shut and pray. God will do the fighting. Stop handing the enemy ammunition with your unruly mouth and unbridled tongue.

Every time we complain, we build the enemy’s case against us. Every time we speak in anger, we stop the flow of God’s love. Every time we build our story, we build walls. Walls that close us in and keep us from our true potential.

God, help us to control our mouths. Convict us of our words. Strengthen us to fight this battle with our prayers and praises to you. You have shown us a better way … we now know better, may we do better.