Contending For A Better Future
- Admin
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
March 26, 2025
" ‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession and contend with him in battle.”
- Deuteronomy 2:24 (ESV)
Even when God has promised us a better future, contention is still required to possess it. Simply seeing the picture of the better future is not enough to bring it into reality, there must be a contending and a running – Habakkuk 2:2.
Newton’s Law of motion (Law of Inertia) states that every object remains at rest or uniform motion unless it is compelled to change its state by the action of an external force. For example, a book on a table will not move on its own, it will remain in that state, until something compels it to move. Likewise, the Israelites were in a state of inertia, God’s command to the Israelites to “Rise”, “Set Out” and “Contend in Battle” became the external force that broke them out of stagnation and propelled them toward their promised future.
Seeing the vision was only the beginning for the Israelites, God instructed them to contend for what He had already given to them. Contention was the tool God used to position to possess the blessings of a better future. Let's explore some ways we, too, can contend for a better future using some examples from the Scripture.
1. Contend Through Prayer
In 1 Samuel 1:1-18, we read the story of Hannah. Hannah was married to Elkanah but had no children, Elkanah’s other wife taunted her. This led Hannah to deep distress as she wept and would not eat. Hannah wanted a change in Her life, so she poured out her heart to God in prayer. By verse 20, we see that God answered her prayers and blessed her with a child.
Another example is Abraham, who interceded for his cousin Lot, asking God to spare him from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18:16-33.
James 5:16 declares; that the effective and fervent prayers of the righteous avails much. Some versions say makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working). If you are tired of your current state, contend for a better future through PRAYER.
Contention was the tool God used to position to possess the blessings of a better future.
2. Contend by Standing in Faith
In 1 Kings 18:16-40 Elijah confronted The Prophets of Baal in a time of severe famine. The land has suffered three years of drought, and the future looked bleak. Queen Jezebel was actively killing Gods Prophets, leaving them with two firm options, death by starvation or death by persecution. But Elijah refused to accept this fate. He challenged the prophets of Ball to a contest. They would call on Baal, and he would call on God, and the God that answered by fire would be the true God. Elijah needed fire, and he contended for it, standing on what he knew God could do. When God answered with fire from heaven, it not only proved His power, but soon after, the long drought ended in the land.
3. Contend with Boldness in the Name of the Lord
Another example of contention is found in 1 Samuel 17, Where David faced Goliath. For forty days, Goliath intimidated the Israelites, taunting them every morning and night. But When David heard the Philistine defying the armies of God, something rose up within him – a force that changed the course of events. David remembered how God had helped him in the past and boldly declared, I come against you in The Name of The Lord. Rather than coward in fear, David contended for victory in faith and God delivered Goliath into his hands.
Faith in God is a force that can move giants out of our way.
Rise Up! Set Out! Contend for and Take Possession of the future God has prepared for you.
Song of Worship
We are able to go up
And take the country
To possess the land
From Jordan to the sea
Though the giants may be on our way to hinder
God will surely give us a victory
Prayer - We declare and decree that we take hold of everything You have ordained for us. We rise up, set out and contend for Your promises to be ESTABLISHED in our lives. We enter into a season of acceleration, manifestation and possessing our possessions in the name of Jesus. What was impossible yesterday becomes possible today in Jesus Mighty Name. So it is and it shall be in Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen