God Is With You When You Are With Him
In life and in conflicts, we sometimes say things like, “God is on my side,” to indicate that our cause is just, that we're in the right, and that we'll prevail. While it’s true that we will win if God is on our side, the statement itself is incomplete. The Bible says:
“...The Lord is with you when you are with him.”
— 1 Chronicles 15:2
You might wonder why that distinction matters. It matters because, as believers, we often assume that God is with us when He may not be. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people making this very mistake — assuming God is on their side, when in fact, they should have been seeking to ensure that they were on His.
Lessons From Israel’s Battles
Take, for example, the time the Israelites went to war against the Philistines in the days of the prophet Eli — 1 Samuel chapter 4. They brought the Ark of the Covenant into their camp because they were losing and expected God to turn the tide of the battle in their favor. They were so confident in the outcome that the Bible says:
“…they shouted so loudly that the earth shook.”
— 1 Samuel 4:5
Even the Philistines were terrified. But God did not act as they expected. The Philistines not only defeated Israel but also captured the Ark. It was not a sign of God’s weakness. On the contrary, while the Ark remained in Philistine territory, God Himself humiliated their god, Dagon, and devastated their cities.
In Part III of this series, I mentioned that we all need God to win against the unseen demonic forces that sometimes try to shape the outcomes of our lives. As Jesus taught us to pray, “...deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13, NKJV). But that protection hinges on alignment — we must walk in step with Him.
The Holy Spirit taught me this powerful truth from Joshua 5:13–15. As Joshua approached Jericho — the Israelites’ first conquest in the land of Canaan — he encountered a supernatural figure: a man armed and battle-ready. Naturally, Joshua asked:
“...Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
— Joshua 5:13
The answer was unexpected:
“…No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
— Joshua 5:14
Even as the Commander of heaven’s armies, He was not automatically on Israel’s side.
God takes no sides; it is we who must take His.
This truth is reinforced in the very next chapter. After the triumph at Jericho, Israel turned its sights to the small city of Ai — Joshua chapter 7. Confident in an easy win, they sent only a few thousand men. But they were routed. Why? Because sin was in the camp. Achan, a member of the tribe of Judah, had secretly taken forbidden items — a Babylonian garment, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold — violating God’s direct command. As a result, God withdrew His support. Only after Achan, his family, and the defiled possessions were destroyed did Israel prevail over Ai.
What Does Holiness Look Like?
Returning to Joshua’s encounter, I believe the Commander he saw was the pre-incarnate Christ — as revealed in Revelation 19:11–16. When Joshua asked,
“What does my Lord say to His servant?”
— Joshua 5:14
the Commander replied:
“…Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.”
— Joshua 5:15
This is the same instruction God gave Moses in Exodus 3:5. It tells us that being on God’s side means walking in holiness.
We typically associate holiness with God — and rightly so, for He is holy. But as believers, we often see holiness as a lofty, unattainable goal. Yet when God calls us to holiness, He is not calling us to perfection. He knows we can’t be perfect, and He doesn’t expect us to be. Holiness is not being a monk or an ascetic. In fact, the Apostle Paul warns that such extreme practices may have “an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body,” but are “of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” — Colossians 2:23 (NKJV).
So how should we understand holiness or what does it look like? Psalm 24:3 (NLT) amongst others offers an inspiring, relatable, and human picture:
“Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.” — Psalm 24:3
Is there anything greater than ascending God’s mountain or standing in His holy presence? No. But, what are the requirements: Clean hands — honesty, integrity, a life free of violence or theft; a pure heart — not harboring evil or immoral thoughts — not that they don’t cross your mind sometimes but you don’t harbor them; no idolatry — worshipping the one true God alone (John 17:3); and truthfulness — never telling lies.
Are these standards achievable? Yes — if we desire them and rely on God’s help. This doesn’t mean we won’t sin, but when we do, we ask for forgiveness. God does not require us to punish ourselves or retreat from normal life, as some false religions do — or as seen in certain Christian monastic traditions where people isolate themselves, take lifelong vows, and practice harsh disciplines to try to earn spiritual merit or favor.
We need God on our side — or more accurately, we need to be on His side — if we’re going to win our battles against the forces of darkness. We must align our lifestyle, conduct, actions, and speech with God’s will and purpose. Otherwise, we risk stepping onto the battlefield without Him and losing our battles against these demonic forces.
Ask yourself: what changes will you make to ensure you are on God’s side and making the right choices? You may stumble at times, but don’t give up. Your life is not an accident — you have the power to shape its outcome. Start making the right choices today.