When God Calls You To Speak
Friday, September 4
Numbers 13:30 (NLT)
“But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
Devotion
Sometimes God will have you speak up when what He wants spoken is not the popular idea. You may have heard it said that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s right. Caleb was willing to take a stand to do as God commanded when the crowd was calling for the exact opposite. Maybe the crowd you’re standing before is your family, and your heart has been deeply wounded by one or more of them.
It took courage to do what Caleb did. Yet, he knew in his gut he needed to speak up: “We can certainly conquer it!” He had seen the land and the people there for himself, and he knew it was possible. But more importantly, he believed God’s promise.
When we get that gut feeling inside and we know it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to us, we have to have the courage to speak up. If we ignore that prompting, it can leave us with a gnawing sense of regret or failure. Thankfully, we have a merciful God who gives us chance after chance. We can choose courage and be certain to speak up the next time. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
The crowd didn’t want to listen to Caleb then—or to God. But he broke through some of the fear and planted a seed, at least for the next generation. The same may happen with us, where we know we’re speaking as God has prompted us, but we see no change. We have to hold on to God in that. Keep our focus on Him and His good plan. “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
God saw Caleb’s obedience and made him a promise. God rewarded Caleb for speaking His words in such a heated moment. In Joshua 14:13–14, Caleb received Hebron, the land on which he walked, as his portion once they had entered the land God had promised them so many years before. He and his descendants were given this land as an inheritance because Caleb “wholly followed the LORD.”
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit to prompt us to speak the words You give us. Thank You for guiding us in those difficult times with those who challenge us. As iron sharpens iron, You gift us to each other to help us each grow as You want, making us more like Christ Jesus. Help us to remember to call on You in those moments and ask You for the words to speak and the courage to speak them. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
The next time the Lord leads you to present a message that may not be well-received, know that He is with you. As you step out in faith, depend on Him for the words. The courage and strength will be there to meet you. As God told Joshua before he was to embark on leading His people to the land of Canaan, He speaks to you: “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 1:9). God’s presence gives you the confidence you need to speak.
Resources
- Need courage to speak up? Meditate on Joshua 1:9