Devotion: The Lord Is Our Banner
“And Moses built an altar and named it, ‘The Lord Is My Banner.’” –Exodus 17:15 (CSB)
The Israelites had fled from Egypt and had begun their wilderness wanderings. They were camped at Rephidim when the Amalekites came to fight against them. Joshua was the commander of Israel’s warriors, and Moses told him to gather the army and go out to fight. Meanwhile, Moses went up on the hilltop above the place of battle with God’s staff in his hand. As long as Moses held the staff high in the air, the Israelites were winning. However, his arms got tired and began to droop. Aaron and Hur who were with him saw what was going on and propped Moses up on a rock and stood on either side of him, each holding up Moses’ arms until the battle was won.
That is where we find our verse for today in Exodus 17:15. Moses built an altar on the site of their victory and named it, “The Lord Is My Banner.” What did that mean? In this case, it meant that the Lord had been their protector and their victory.
Later, in the book of Numbers, we see this fledgling nation becoming more organized as Moses and Aaron begin to divide them by clans and number their military strength. Each clan had an identifying banner. When they camped or when they were in battle, they were to rally under their family’s flag – the sign of their identification.
Isaiah 11:10 says, “On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will be glorious.” The Root of Jesse, Jesus himself, is the banner under which all nations will gather and come together.
Then in the Song of Songs it says in chapter 2, verse 4, “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (KJB)
So, what does it mean to us today that the Lord is our banner? First, God loved us so much that He made a way for us to be in relationship with Him through Jesus, and He staked His claim on our lives by placing His protective banner over us.
Second, it means that when we look to Him and rely on Him, we can walk in victory over life’s battles.
Thirdly, His banner of love is to be our identifying characteristic to those around us.
And, finally, as we allow Jesus to be seen in us and tell our stories of redemption, others will come to know Him and gather under His banner of love, as well.
For Discussion:
- Share how it makes you feel to know that God has staked His claim on your life.
- What battle are you facing over which you need victory?
- Is there someone to whom you could let the identifying characteristic of love shine better?
- Who will you commit to share Jesus with this month?
Shirley Voorhees
Administrative Coordinator
Prepare for Prayer
During this season of social distancing due to the coronavirus, seek out others who you can connect with in prayer from a distance. Consider using a conference call line like www.FreeConferenceCall.com or video conference like Zoom. If you need help, please contact: [email protected]
Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for prayer with the image of raising the Lord as our banner… high for all to see!
Our focus for this month is: The Lord Is Our Banner
Read: Exodus 17:15 (CSB)
“And Moses built an altar and named it, ‘The Lord is my banner.’”
Pray: Almighty God, You are our banner, the One we raise to declare Your priority in our lives, and to proclaim the salvation You have claimed for those who believe in the work on the cross for us in Jesus Christ.
Thank God:
- That our sacrifices or offerings are consecrated because of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
- As we raise the Lord as our banner, we can be assured of His covering over us.
- That when we raise the banner in His name, we can reset our priorities and remember that He is our Sovereign Lord, worthy of all our praise, glory and honor.
Pray for New Outreach Opportunities
Read: Luke 15: 8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin’. In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Pray: Heavenly Father, when we think about the parable of the Lost Coin, we are reminded how you will search high and wide for those that are “lost” without You. Dear God, help us think of women who don’t know You yet. Please give us the courage to reach out in new ways so that they might hear about the saving grace of Jesus.
Pray:
- That we remember God’s passionate heart for women who do not know Jesus yet.
- Through Jesus Christ we can be a light for “lost” women to find their way to God.
- Ask the Lord to show us how to most effectively reach out to the anxious, fearful, and isolated with God’s love during this uncertain drawnout season of the coronavirus.
Sharing Your Faith
Read: Matthew 9: 36
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Pray: Oh faithful Father, sometimes inviting first-time guests to our luncheons can seem challenging, yet we know that You are there to help guide us to the women whose hearts You are already preparing. Please help us to listen to You and continue in the good work You have called us to. Some of us may be trying to do outreach on Zoom now, so give us courage as we step out in faith. Please guide us to women who will join us online.
Pray for:
- Our faithful obedience to reach out to women where they are + as they are in our communities.
- An increased capacity to love our neighbors as God does.
- Endurance, unity, and teamwork to pull off our summer outreaches that You have given us to use as the means to draw “lost” women to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Pray for our Nation and Leaders
Read: John 14:13-14
“You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
Pray: Father, please help our nation and its leaders as they continue to make important decisions while they are weary and uncertain. Show them Your light and Your ways. Help them to cry out to You for help. Please guide them in the way they should go.
Pray for:
- Our nation and world leaders to grieve over the loss of life due to the coronavirus, as well as the economic losses that have affected so many people, and to ask for help in Jesus’ name.
- Christian leaders to draw on God’s Word to speak to them during this unique time in our world’s history.
- Leaders who do not know God personally, that they might seek Him and find Jesus as their personal Savior.
- Those who are working tirelessly with those who are sick and for a cure for the virus to be created sooner than anticipated.
Pray for the Stonecroft Family
Read: Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”
Pray: Holy God, as we raise the banner in Your name. We know that You are in the midst of all the things that we are going through, and we trust in Your sovereignty as we remember that even the wind and the sea obey the Lord’s authority.
Pray for:
- All Stonecroft volunteer leaders and planning team members to raise the Lord as their banner, for He reigns over us and the virus.
- Women to understand that God is an ever-present help in these times.
- Eternal hope to come out of the COVID-19 challenges that we all are affected by and that many people understand their urgent need for eternal hope.
- With thanksgiving, we praise God that we can raise the Lord’s banner because God has good purposes in ALL things.
Prayer for some of our Stonecroft Board:
Beth Fitch – Stonecroft’s National Board chair:
- Prayer that Beth would increase in loving Jesus with all her heart and all her soul and with all her mind and from that would flow increasing love for her neighbors.
Jan Mathers – Stonecroft’s National Board vice chair:
- Pray for Jan’s niece, Katie, and Jan’s daughter-in-law, Mindy – both of whom Jan is having ongoing conversations with about God.
- Pray that both Katie and Jan take the leap fully into God’s arms.
Emily Firnstahl – former Board chair:
- That, during this pandemic, Emily would be consistent in her walk with Jesus and in her witness of Him to others.
Pray for Stonecroft leaders such as Stonecroft Regional Administrators, District Consulting Coordinators, Regional Speaker Trainers, Regional Reps, Area Reps, Chairs, Prayer Consultants, and all outreach leaders that they will be reminded to raise the Lord as their banner.
Pray for our international partners that they would also raise a banner in the name of the Lord, and that they may find covering and strength in the Almighty God.