The President’s wife at Carolina College of Biblical Studies (CCBS), where my husband serves, approached me several months ago concerning a prayer group she was feeling led to start. I really was not interested in adding to my weekly responsibilities. However, I knew that a prayer group would be God’s priority over some of the time-consuming activities that normally filled my week.  

To see the outcome of this band of women uniting to pray for God’s intervention in circumstances beyond our control, has increased my confidence in prayer! We have been blessed to see rescues, victories, and spiritual answers, not to mention support for those days when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders and are not sure we can hold it together another moment much less a day.

Through the great stories of the Bible, we find examples to learn from like where we find Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15). Here, the people of Israel complain they have no water to drink. They are once again questioning God’s care for them and verbalize, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” (verse 7). Yet, God graciously allows Moses to fill their need for water. “Then Amalek came and fought against Israel…” (verse 8). They thought not having water was bad, now they are met with an army that wants to annihilate them. So, Moses is positioned on the top of a hill with staff in hand. Tony Evans interprets this battle to be both physical and spiritual. When Moses held the staff of God high the Israelites prevailed but when his arms grew weary and sank, the Amalekites dominated the battle. The Bible tells us a stone was placed under Moses, “…and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other” (verse 12).

Tony Evans writes “The staff had become a symbol through which God used natural things to perform supernatural works and to display His power.”

“Moses was involved in a spiritual battle on top of that hill and spiritual battles are tiring. As Moses continued to hold the staff high, his ‘hands were heavy’ (Ex. 17:12). He grew weary and began to lose strength. Fortunately, help was at hand. As Moses faded, Aaron and Hur stood beside him and held up his hands, ensuring a victory for God’s people” (verses 12-13).

Evans also encourages, “Don’t ever feel you have to face the trials of life on your own. In fact, don’t think you’re able to face the trials of life on your own—because you’re not. You need help, and so do I. That’s one reason I’m so thankful God created the church. It provides us a place to find Aarons and Hurs in our time of need.”

“To approach God as Jehovah Nissi is to look toward Him as the source of power and deliverance in your life. The LORD My Banner means God has made Himself evident and available for those who look to Him in times of need.”

Tony Evans

As I continue to hold my banner high in battling any form of addiction, even if it is sugar (or anything that would take the place of God in our lives), I am reminded more and more that we cannot do things on our own. It is through acknowledging God as our Adonai, Lord and Master, that we receive help from our Jehovah Nissi! He is continually waiting for us to get to the point where we understand He IS the answer to all our problems, needs, hurts, and dilemmas. And He can be trusted to provide exactly what is needed to fight the battle because He is our standard; THE LORD IS OUR BANNER!