Take Your Position!

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

Daily we need to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. Jesus said in Luke 9:23-25 and Matthew 10:37-39:

“23 And He said to them all, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall have it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

Matthew 10:37-39:

“37 He that love father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.”

The same message is spoken by Jesus in Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34; this shows the importance of taking up our crosses and following Jesus daily and not allow no one, even ourselves, or nothing stop us. Your cross might be sickness that is trying to attach itself to you, financial problems, someone you love is dying, a rebellious child, etc. Whatever it is, don’t allow it to stop you from seeking after God daily for His strength; keep your focus on God and don’t be distracted.

It’s time to realize, the battle is not ours but the Lord’s; we must fight the good fight of faith by taking our positions and standing still, and then we will see the salvation of the Lord in every situation. The devil is not after your “stuff” but he is after you soul. He hates God and everything and everybody who represents God. When he attacks you, he is trying to make God look bad. The devil want you to sin so he can accuse you before God; he is the accuser of the brethren so don’t take his attacks personally. As God told King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17, He is telling you today:

“15 …The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude (at your many crosses); for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 17 You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you… Fear not nor be dismayed…”

King Jehoshaphat responded to God in this manner:

“18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord; worshipping Him.”

Bottom line:

God is telling you today to:

1. Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ (2 Timothy 2:3) - “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

2. Take your position (1 Timothy 6:12) – “Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

3. Stand still; put on the whole armor of God so you can stand (Ephesians 6:14; 12-17) – “14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

Don’t be distracted so you can stand (2 Timothy 2:4) – “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

4. See God’s deliverance (Isaiah 43:1-2; 18-19) – “1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

5. “18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old (put all things behind – forget everything that is in your past). 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness (when your crosses get too heavy to bear), and rivers in the desert (when you think everything is dried up).

God always have a way of escape for us, no matter how dead our situation look, God already has a way of escape; all we have to do is trust in Him.

So today, take your position, stand still, and watch God give you deliverance in every area of your life.

God bless,
Dr. Hooks

All Scriptures were taken from the Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.