For there was not a house without someone dead. (Ex. 12:30)

His name was Bryan. I don’t know why he made me the offer, but it came as a surprise, and it also felt like an honor. During recess one day in elementary school, Bryan approached me out of nowhere: “If you ever need me to fight someone for you, I will. I know that you can take care of yourself, but you’ve got a good reputation and all.” We were not best friends, but the day Bryan offered to beat anyone up who gave me trouble, I felt strangely supported. I knew that if I ever had to fight, I didn’t have to fight alone. And if he was serious about his promise, I may never even have to fight at all. (At least not during fifth-grade recess.)

At the start of God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt, he wanted to make it clear to his people, “I will fight for you.” God repeated this theme throughout Scripture. Sometimes he would tell them to armor up and march onto the field, but it was always framed by the understanding that he was their defender.

Still today, God is the powerhouse behind our spiritual victories. He faces and knocks out our great enemy the devil. We can’t win without him; we can’t lose with him. What battles are you facing today? Are you letting God be on the front lines?

Ask God to defend you and watch him win.

Jarod Osborne is lead pastor of Pathway Church, in Warsaw, Indiana. He is the author of Jaded Faith (WPH).

© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.