Awaken the Giant: A Call to Proactive Faith

    

Admiral Yamamoto

    In the annals of history, few phrases carry the weight and consequence of a single, fateful day like that of Admiral Yamamoto. The year was 1941, and our nation was largely reluctant to engage in a global conflict. We had just came out of a major war just a few decades prior, and we were recovering from the great depression. The idea of joining in a war that had little to nothing to do with us seemed for many to be largely irresponsible.  However all of that changed in 1941 after the attack on Peal Harbor.  Admiral Yamamoto, the Japanese naval strategist, is famously believed to have said in the wake of the attack, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." The sleeping giant of America was awakened, not by a call to arms, but by the devastating reality of an enemy at its doorstep. We realized that war for the first time that we were not getting in a war, but rather war was already upon us. 

    Too often, we treat our faith like a sleeping giant—dormant and inactive until a crisis hits. Many times our spiritual battles that we fight are more reactionary. It's when a marriage is on the rocks, a child is wandering from the faith, or we face a personal setback that we suddenly decide to "get serious" about God. That is when we begin to pray and get into the word of God. That is when all of a sudden church becomes a priority. We begin fighting a defensive battle only after the first casualties have been sustained. But what if we didn't have to wait for the tragedy? What if we could awaken the giant of our faith and fight proactively?

    The Bible gives us an incredible example of a man who understood this principle all to well: Joshua. As the leader of Israel, he had guided his people into the Promised Land. They were united, worshiping God, and following His commands. There was no immediate crisis, no imminent threat to their faith. Yet, it was in this moment of peace and prosperity that Joshua made one of the most powerful and enduring statements in all of Scripture. He didn't wait for the spiritual attacks to come to his family; he took a stand beforehand. He declared his resolve, not out of fear of what had happened, but in preparation for what might. We read in Joshua his declaration;

"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15)

    This was a declaration of proactive spiritual warfare. Joshua saw the battle before the casualties appeared. He understood that they could not be complacent in there walk and they needed to put a line in the sand now.  He knew that the enemy was always plotting, always seeking to devour. 

    We too, must open our eyes to the spiritual battle being waged around us. We need to understand, especially when things are going good in our lives that the Devil has not stopped attacking. Understand that sometimes there is a quite before the storm. It's when all is right and everything seems to be going well that we are the most vulnerable to let down our guard and allow the enemy to gain a foothold. The Bible warns us: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

    You will not fight for your family until you see the spiritual warfare that is already being waged. However we don't have to wait for our family to be attacked before we see that we are in a spiritual battle.  We have a choice to make, just as Joshua presented to Israel. Will we wait for our families to be ambushed by the enemy, or will we take the fight to him? Will we cover our children in prayer? Fathers will we lead our families toward a closer walk with God. Mothers will we point our children to Jesus?

    The recent tragedy involving conservative activist Charlie Kirk, we see a similar sentiment of awakening is emerging. While many focused on the political aspects, there is a deeper spiritual reality that is being revealed. His bold and unapologetic stand for his faith, even in the face of opposition, has reportedly galvanized a younger generation of believers to engage their culture and to boldly stand for Jesus. In various campuses throughout America we are seeing young people worshiping, and sharing their faith. Is this revival? Time will only tell. But perhaps what was meant to be a devastating blow has, in the eyes of many, become a catalyst for spiritual awakening. My blog post on Charlie Kirk

    This serves as a powerful reminder that our faith is not a passive belief system, but an active, living relationship that demands a daily commitment to fight for what matters. To live for truth and point others to Jesus Christ. This isn't about self-help; it's about surrendering to the One who has already secured the victory. Christ’s perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection have defeated the powers of sin and death, and He has given us His Holy Spirit to live a life of victory in Him. Our hope is not in our own strength or resolve, but in the power and grace of God. There is no need to wait for the casualties of the spiritual battles that we are facing before we activate our faith. We can and should live out our faith today in preparation for the battles of tomorrow. 

    May the enemy one day say of you, your family, your church and your generation, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

Practical Applications:

1. Make a "Joshua 24:15" Declaration: Take a moment today to personally and publicly declare your commitment to God. This can be as simple as a heartfelt prayer, a journal entry, or a conversation with your family. By making a proactive declaration, you are setting a spiritual stake in the ground for your life and your household.

2. Build Your Spiritual Arsenal: Don't wait for a crisis to start praying and reading your Bible. Be proactive by intentionally setting aside time each day to seek God's voice through His Word and prayer. The more you know the Shepherd's voice, the easier it will be to discern the voice of the enemy.

3. Engage in Proactive Discipleship: For your family, this means being intentional about your faith. Instead of waiting for a problem, actively engage in spiritual conversations. Pray together, read the Bible together, and serve others together. Show them what it means to actively follow Jesus, not just reactively seek Him in times of trouble.

4. Act as an Awakened Giant: Do not be silent. Live out your faith boldly and unapologetically in your school, workplace, and community. Hold on to the truth and do not allow the lies of the world to over shadow the timeless truths of God's word. The world needs to see believers who are not afraid to stand for truth.

For a deeper look into Charlie Kirk's journey to faith