There is something amazing that happens as I open God’s Word in the morning and just read it. Some days it’s simply one chapter, other days I’m pulled into a story and blow through five or six. If you haven’t ever accomplished reading His story, I challenge you to try it. Don’t pressure yourself with a plan, just crack it open and see where He leads you. This week it returned me to one of my favorite stories. It occurs in 2 Chronicles 20 and stars Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. Jehoshaphat was facing a battle with some big people, a “vast army” to be exact. I can relate? You? Well Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and I love what happens here.
First, the people of
Before I move onto what Jehoshaphat and Judah did, I want to point out something—the battle was never theirs. Did you see that? God tells them it’s His battle, they didn’t need to fight it. Sometimes we get locked into fighting a battle that was never ours to take up. We can’t understand why we feel defeated, yet we aren’t even supposed to be in the fight. So what should we be doing, if not fighting?
Praising.
Let’s keep reading snippets from the rest of the passage. "Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites…praised the Lord with very loud voices…Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army…and as they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir…and they were defeated.”
Do you see? See the power of our praise? So often we try and take the battle from God and all He wants is our praise. As we praise, He moves. There is such power in the simple act of worship. And where did this praise occur? In front of the battle! Before the deliverance even happened, they praised God for the victory. OH! How I want to be someone who praises God for victory before I see it.
Are you fighting a battle today? Seek God…is He trying to tell you that the battle is His? Step back from the fight and start praising—let Him defeat your enemy. The battle belongs to the Lord.
Thank you for sharing this truth, Susan. I needed the reminder and the encouragement.
ReplyDelete:) So did I, Beth. You are so welcome, friend.
DeleteHello Susan. I is an honor and privilege to get connected with you as well as know you through your comment on the blog post of Moya. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India and I love to get connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 37 yrs in this grest city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorst of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young adn the adults from the west to come to MUMBAI to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have your teen aged kids to come with Moya to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. God willing I will be coming to the United States in the month of July and will be so glad to stop by your place and meet you and your family and also share with you about the ministry we have as well as the opportunity the young as well as adults have to work with us during their vacation time. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. Also wishing you a blessed and a Christ centered rest of the year 2016. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede
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