His Presence and Word Makes Us Strong and Courageous: Day 5
Intention
To find strength to overcome fear and become courageous from God’s presence and his word.
Scripture
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:8–9
Reflection
These words remind us that strength and courage do not come from within ourselves but from God’s abiding presence and his word.
For the Church to walk in its inheritance today, we too must hear this call: Be strong. Be courageous. Reject fear.
Strength is found in leaning on God when our own resources run dry. It is strength of faith that holds fast to his promises, strength of conviction that keeps us anchored to his truth, and strength of unity that binds us together as his people.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Rather, it is the willingness to move forward in love and obedience despite it. The human heart naturally longs to protect itself, yet Christ calls us to a higher way: to lay down self-interest, to serve others, and to love even when it costs something. Courage steps out when the path is unclear, trusting the Spirit’s gentle leading.
Fear, however, lingers at the door of our hearts. It whispers the what ifs: What if I fail? What if I’m misunderstood? What if it costs too much? Fear keeps us tied to yesterday and hesitant about tomorrow. Fear would have prevented Joshua and the Israelites from entering their inheritance. It will work the same negative result in us. We will fail to embrace the opportunities before us and miss out on the good works that God has prepared for us to do.
But God gently reminds us that he is with us. Isaiah 41:10 records, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
His perfect love casts out fear, and his presence steadies our hearts.
Video
Prayer
Lord, make your Church strong – strong in faith, strong in conviction, and strong in unity. Give us courage to set aside self-protection and to put the needs of others above our own
Teach us to love boldly and to obey your Spirit even when fear presses in. Free us from the what ifs that hold us back, and remind us daily that you are with us. May we walk forward in strength, courage, and freedom, trusting you in all things.
Amen.
Author Bio
Pastor John Hunt has been an Australian Christian Churches (ACC) pastor for 39 years and is currently the Director of ACC International. He became the ACC National Vice President in 2021. John and his wife Francine pastored Centro Church in Ipswich for 28 years. He and Francine have been married for 42 years and have three married daughters and seven grandchildren.
Prayer Points for October 2025
- God to pour out his blessing and Spirit on every church in Australia and its leaders. Hebrews 13:7
- All churches in Australia to grow in Christlikeness and win people to Christ. Acts 6:7
- Widespread adoption of Reaching Australia 2033 and its plan to activate every believer in personal evangelism. Acts 1:8
- Revival for Australia and for millions to come to Christ. Isaiah 64:1–2
We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Sign up to receive daily devotions during October in your inbox (and find extra info) here.
Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:
DATES: Every night from Wednesday, 1 October to Friday, 31 October
TIME (5–31 October): 8 pm AEDT; 7:30 pm SA; 7 pm QLD; 6:30 pm NT; 5 pm WA
ZOOM URL LINK: zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM TUTORIAL: youtube.com/watch?v=pAMDxH_H_Cs
View all Prayer for the Church October 2025 devotionals
Daily devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.
___
Photo via Adobe.
2 Comments
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
25 June 2026
2.4 MINS
The Australian Christian Lobby is hosting screenings of the groundbreaking documentary Born Alive, Left to Die across Australia. It is time for truth, accountability, and change. Attend a screening and invite others to join you.
25 June 2026
3.9 MINS
Most Australians still believe in human dignity and inalienable rights, essential truths for a just legal system. What they’ve since abandoned is the only foundation that make those beliefs coherent.
25 June 2026
3.2 MINS
Larry Sanger helped create Wikipedia to be "the free encyclopaedia anyone can edit." Three decades later, he's been locked out — for trying to make the site more balanced.
25 June 2026
5.4 MINS
For three weeks, Women's Rights advocate Sall Grover tried to have an opinion piece published on the ABC. But the taxpayer-funded organisation refused, saying that terms such as ‘biological reality’ and ‘truth’ were offensive.
24 June 2026
4.8 MINS
After scoring the sixth-fastest goal in FIFA's 2026 World Cup, Christian footballer Felix Nmecha dropped to one knee and symbolically laid his crown at the feet of Christ. It's a gesture that captures everything about him: faith first, football second.
24 June 2026
2.9 MINS
If you’re a parent or a grandparent, you probably worry about what your child or grandchild is learning at school. In the first of its kind in Australia, a survey has been launched to measure parent attitudes to Respectful Relationship sessions in schools.
24 June 2026
5.9 MINS
Nation First looks into Keir Starmer’s resignation and why Anthony Albanese should be worried by the same policy failures now haunting Labor at home.
Pope Benedict Emeritus said that he would spend the rest of his life praying for the church after his abdication. He meant globally I don’t think he was parochial.
I have to add that people had courage and strength all over the world in different times and eras regions and conditions ;under paganism atheism agnosticism whatever.
It s nature .Animals have strength and courage .Unless they’ve been badly treated as young or are disabled in some way making them vulnerable to predators of whatever intention or in whatever form
Drugs, such as anti depressants I’ve been told by an elderly retired biochemist , induce inexplicable feelings of fear in those using them .As can hallucinogenics, psychotropics ,even the good old faithful depressant ,alcohol , when consumed routinely .
Anything that is a threat to the bodies natural integrity of form or function chemically or biologically will imo produce sensations of fear quite as a natural reaction .
It does matter what you allow into your body your blood your stomach your muscles just as much ,maybe more, than what you allow to enter your consciousness through your eyes and ears .
Mass hypnosis is real too .
Beware, lest ye be deceived, for many will come in name Jesus warns.