day no. 16,493: force and fervor; decision and devotion; valor and vehemence

And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. —  Exodus 17:12

“So mighty was the prayer of Moses, that all depended upon it. The petitions of Moses discomfited the enemy more than the fighting of Joshua. Yet both were needed. So, in the soul's conflict, force and fervour, decision and devotion, valour and vehemence, must join their forces, and all will be well.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Morning and Evening 

Moses prayed while Joshua fought. Moses fought on the plains of faith and Joshua preyed on the fields of battle. Moses and Joshua were equally engaged in kingdom work. Moses by his prayer fought and Joshua by his fighting prayed. Joshua by his fighting demonstrated his faith. Moses in his prayer demonstrated his. Joshua trusted in the prayer of Moses. Moses trusted in the fighting of Joshua. Joshua did not set down his sword to pray. Moses did not lower his arms to grab a sword. Joshua left Moses to pray and Moses left the fighting to Joshua. Both were required. Both played the man at their posts and the battle was won.

“It is far easier to fight with sin in public, than to pray against it in private. It is remarked that Joshua never grew weary in the fighting, but Moses did grow weary in the praying; the more spiritual an exercise, the more difficult it is for flesh and blood to maintain it.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

The prayers of Moses strengthened Joshua in his fighting and the fighting of Joshua encouraged Moses in his praying, but Moses strength was sapped. Spiritual battles require Spiritual replenishment just as physical battles requires physical restoration. All battles leave their wounds. Physical battles are accompanied by physical wounds; spiritual battles by spiritual ones.

In Christ, there is a balm in Gilead that can heal all wounds, but not all scars. Just as physical wounds may leave scars of battles fought and survived, so spiritual wounds may leave their marks on a man. But just as physical scars are trophies of past victories, so spiritual scars may prove to be trophies for those who persevered past struggles by staying close to Christ.