Fortify and Prosper

Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. —1 Chronicles 22:13 (KJV)

Do you want to prosper? Be of good courage? Dread not? Let’s look into the Word of God to see how we can do just that!

The word for prosper in Hebrew is tsaw-lakh’, which can mean break out. I love that! That means we can believe that we truly can break out of the binds that have been holding us down! We all seem to struggle with areas that can hold us back. The truth is that the enemy is a roaring lion threatening to attack us. Sometimes we just feel like prey waiting for the lion to come have us for dinner. But this verse is telling us that we can break out of the devil’s trap! We will prosper! We will tsaw-lakh!

How do we do this? We do this by fulfilling God’s law by becoming righteous through Jesus Christ. Through Him alone, we can be strong! The Hebrew word for strong here is khaw-zak‘. Interestingly khaw-zak’ can mean fortify.

Have you ever seen old television shows of the early West of America? Do you remember what they would do if an enemy were to attack? If an adversary drew near, an alarm would sound. All the townsfolk would quickly gather at the fort. The women would load the rifles. The men would fortify themselves against the fort walls. Once the doors were closed, no one would dare to come close unless they were on the fort community’s side.

They seemed to be made of some super tough stuff back then. Like all humankind, they would have had the temptation to worry, to dread, and to be dismayed. However, they knew that if they did not stand strong together, they would all fall apart. Their fort would be overrun by the enemy. This could not be! They were on a mission. They were forging new territory. Creating good homes. They had a call to be mothers, fathers, and soldiers in this new country.

You too have a call! This year—fortify! Fortify your home and your walls. Be strong, standing on the promises of God. Throw away the dread. Throw away the dismay. Believe God’s Word. Trust in Christ for all your needs. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you! As the enemies ran from the protected fort, to avoid disaster you too will make a way through the enemy lines.

Fortified in the Lord, you can then open the doors to your heart and walk in freedom! You will tsaw-lakh, break out, of the enemy’s flimsy binds. Like those fiery frontier ladies, you will soldier on to victory!