Let Go and Let God Take the Lead

Battle Drill Daily Devotionals for Week Commencing 21 September 2025

Here are the Battle Drill Daily Devotionals for the coming week. The accompanying video and audio podcast episodes will be published each day.

What Does It Mean to Be Meek?

Sunday 21 September 2025

What does it mean to be meek? Many of us hear meek and think of weakness, timidity, or being a doormat.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”. (Matthew 5:5, NIVUK)

When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek”, he meant something far more powerful. Meekness is not weakness. It is strength under God’s control.

The Greek word used here was often applied to a wild stallion brought under discipline. The horse still has its strength, but now the rider guides that power. That’s the picture Jesus gives us. Being meek means taking your strength, your gifts, your energy, and placing them under God’s hand.

In Jesus’ day, people expected the Messiah to seize power, to overthrow Rome with force. Instead, Jesus taught that the meek - those who trust God and submit to his will - are the ones who will inherit the earth. It was a radical reversal then, and it still is now.

I know in my own life how easy it is to push, control, and prove myself to be strong. But the moments of deepest blessing have come when I’ve said, “Lord, I can’t do this alone. You take the reins”. That’s meekness: choosing trust over pride, choosing to surrender over control.

So, what does it mean to be meek for you today? It might mean holding back harsh words. It might mean forgiving when revenge feels easier. It might mean letting God guide your next steps instead of forcing your own.

The promise is clear: those who are meek will inherit the earth. When you let go of control and let God lead, you don’t lose. You gain his Kingdom.

Thought Starter: Where do you need to hand the reins back to God today?

Prayer: Lord, teach me meekness. Take my pride and my strength and bring them under your control. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Learn How to Be Meek Like Jesus

Monday 22 September 2025

Have you ever wondered how to be meek like Jesus? Many of us hear the word “meek” and think “weak”. We imagine being a doormat, never speaking up, or avoiding conflict. But Jesus gives us a different picture.

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly”. (1 Peter 2:21–23)

Peter reminds us that Jesus never retaliated when he was insulted. He didn’t seek revenge when he suffered. Instead, he placed his trust in God, who always judges fairly. That’s meekness - strength under God’s control.

So, how can we be meek like Jesus? It begins with surrender. It means trusting God with our reputation, trusting him with our plans, and trusting him with our pain. It’s saying, “Lord, I will follow your way, even when it costs me”.

I know how hard that can be. My instinct is often to defend myself or try to fix things in my own strength. But the Holy Spirit nudges me to pause, to pray, and to let go. In that moment of surrender, meekness begins to grow.

Meekness isn’t passivity. It’s courage. It’s choosing God’s way when everything in you wants to control. It’s allowing Jesus’ Spirit to shape your responses, your words, and your actions.

So where is God asking you to be meek today? Remember - the spirit of meekness is the Spirit of Jesus living in you.

Thought Starter: What would change if you surrendered one situation today and trusted God to handle it?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me true meekness. Teach me to surrender pride and control. Fill me with your Spirit and help me to follow in your steps. Amen.

The Power of Humility Wins with God

Tuesday 23 September 2025

What makes someone genuinely great? We often think of power, fame, or strength. But the Bible gives us a quite different answer.

“Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth”. (Numbers 12:3 NRSVA)

Moses was the man God chose to lead Israel out of slavery, to stand before Pharaoh, and to guide God’s people through the wilderness. And how does Scripture describe him? Not as mighty, not as clever, not as bold - but as humble.

That’s the power of humility. It was humility that set Moses apart. He knew his weaknesses. He knew his limits. He depended on God. And because of that, God could trust him with great responsibility.

We live in a world that prizes pride and self-promotion. Social media tells us to prove ourselves, to display our best, to fight for our rights. But God says something quite different: humility wins. The meek will inherit the earth. The humble will know his blessing.

Have you ever noticed how exhausting it is to try to be in control? To keep up appearances, to prove yourself to others, to carry burdens on your own? Humility frees you from that cycle. When you choose humility, you admit, “I can’t do this without God”. And in that place of surrender, God’s power begins to work.

Humility isn’t weakness. It’s strength under God’s control. It’s knowing who you are - and who you are not. It’s recognising that without him, we are nothing, but with him, we can walk forward in courage and peace.

So today, will you dare to choose humility? Will you take the risk of admitting your need and letting God lead? That’s the path to freedom. That’s the power of humility.

Thought Starter: Where in your life do you need to stop striving and choose the power of humility instead?

Prayer: Lord, teach me the power of humility. Forgive my pride. Help me to depend on you in all things. Shape me by your Spirit into someone you can trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Is God – And I’m Not

Wednesday 24 September 2025

We spend much of life trying to prove we’re in control. We plan our days, we set our goals, we measure our worth by what we achieve. But sooner or later, reality catches up. The truth is simple, though hard to accept. God is God and I am not.

“God, your God, is the God of all gods, he’s the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome”. (Deuteronomy 10:17 MSG)

That’s what meekness really is. It’s not weakness or timidity. It’s confidence in who I am – and who I’m not. It means saying, “I don’t have to be God. I don’t have to hold everything together. That’s not my role”. Instead, I rest in the truth that God is immense, powerful, and utterly faithful.

Think about Moses. Scripture describes him as more meek than anyone else on earth. Why? Because he knew where the power lay. He didn’t claim to be the source of miracles. He didn’t part the Red Sea with his own strength. He leaned on the God who called him – and that’s what set him apart.

Meekness is strength under God’s control. It’s the steady courage to make the right choice when your pride wants to fight back. It’s holding your tongue when insulted. It’s letting God defend you when you’d rather lash out. It’s the daily act of saying, “Lord, you lead. I’ll follow”.

And this isn’t just about surrender. It’s also about identity. If God is God, then I know who I am: I’m his child, I’m loved, I’m redeemed, and I’m secure. That’s where peace comes from.

So today, will you let go of the need to be in control? Will you embrace the freedom of meekness – knowing who you are, and who you’re not?

Thought Starter: Where in your life do you need to stop playing God and let him be God today?

Prayer: Lord, you are immense and powerful. Forgive me when I try to take your place. Teach me the meekness of trusting you fully. Help me to rest in who I am – and who I’m not. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Live Free as a Child of God

Thursday 25 September 2025

Have you ever forgotten who you are? Not your name or your address - but your true identity.

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God”. (1 John 5:1)

Many of us spend our lives trying to prove ourselves, to earn approval, or to hide our flaws. But meekness, the kind Jesus spoke of, isn’t about being weak or invisible. It’s about knowing whose you are. And John gives us the truth that changes everything: I am a child of God.

That’s not a title you earn. It’s not a badge you wear because you’re good enough. It’s a gift of grace. John reminds us that everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born into God’s family. That means your worth doesn’t hang on your successes, and it isn’t crushed by your failures. You are secure, not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done.

When you remember you are a child of God, you no longer have to seek the approval of others. You no longer need to grasp for control. You no longer need to measure yourself by the world’s standards. Instead, you can rest in the love of the Father who calls you his own.

I’ve had moments when I’ve lost sight of this. Times when criticism cut deep, or failure whispered shame. But again and again, God has reminded me: You are mine. That truth brings strength and resilience. It allows us to live with courage, with gentleness, and with joy.

So today, when doubts creep in, declare it to yourself: I am a child of God. Let that truth steady your heart and shape your choices.

Thought Starter: What would change today if you lived with the quiet confidence that you are God’s child?

Prayer: Father, thank you that I am your child. Help me to rest in your love and to live with the meekness that comes from knowing whose I am. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Obedience or Liberty: The Choice That Defines Destiny

Friday 26 September 2025

Every day, you and I make choices that shape who we become. The Bible puts it simply:

“Don’t you realise that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living”. (Romans 6:16).

That’s a stark choice, isn’t it? Obedience or slavery: the choice that defines destiny. We often think that choosing not to obey God means we are free to do whatever we want. But if we’re honest, chasing our own way often leaves us stuck. Bad habits tighten their grip. Old wounds keep shaping our decisions. The path we think is free actually makes us captive.

Obedience to God, on the other hand, feels costly at first. It means laying down our own agenda, letting go of our control, and choosing God’s way over our own. But that obedience is the path to true liberty. Real freedom comes not from serving ourselves, but from giving our lives to the One who gave his life for us.

In my own ministry, I’ve learned this the hard way. In times when I’ve tried to push ahead with my own ideas, ignoring God’s nudges, I’ve ended up weary and unfruitful. But when I’ve stopped and said, “Lord, your way, not mine”, I’ve found peace, strength, and fruit I could never have produced on my own.

Today, you face that same decision. Will you obey your own desires - or will you obey God? One path leads to more chains, the other to freedom. The choice is yours.

Thought Starter: What decision lies before you today where you need to choose God’s way rather than your own?

Prayer: Lord, help me to see that obedience to you is the path to freedom. Give me courage to choose your way today, over and over again. Amen.

All In for Jesus Every Day

Saturday 27 September 2025

What does it mean to go all in for Jesus?

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own”. (Luke 14:33)

Many of us are tempted to give him just a part of our lives. Sunday mornings? Yes, of course. A quick prayer before a meal? Yes, I can do that. But every part of my heart, all of my will, every part of my future? That feels too costly.

Jesus doesn’t call us to half measures. He says simply that following him means surrendering everything. It’s not Jesus plus comfort, it’s not Jesus plus control, it’s not Jesus plus my way. It is Jesus alone. That’s why meekness - strength under God’s control - isn’t weakness. It’s choosing daily to let him lead.

Think about it like this. If you’re “all in” in a sports game, you’re using every ounce of energy, and stretching every sinew to win the game. There’s no holding back. That’s the picture Jesus paints in Luke 14. If you want to be his disciple, you cannot hold anything back from living his way.

In The Salvation Army, I’ve seen what happens when people go all in for Jesus. Addictions lose their grip. Relationships heal. Callings are discovered. Hope is restored. It isn’t easy, but it is always worth it.

I know in my own life how easy it is to hold something back - my time, my pride, my need for control. But every time I’ve trusted Jesus with more, I’ve found his peace and strength filling the space I once tried to keep for myself.

So, here’s the question: are you willing to lay it all down? To let Jesus not only save you but shape every part of your life? That is what it means to go all in for Jesus.

Thought Starter: What part of your life are you still holding back from Jesus, and how could you surrender it to him today?

Prayer: Lord, I choose to go all in for you. I lay down every part of my life - my plans, my fears, my future. Take it all and use it for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For more devotionals and resources, visit battledrilldevotional.com. Prefer watching? Check out our video devotionals at video.battledrilldevotional.com. Sign up via email at devotional.battledrilldevotional.com. See our Sermons at battlereadysermons.com. Sign up via email at sermons.battlereadysermons.com.

Unless otherwise shown, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. All song extracts used by permission. CCL Licence No. 135015.