“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
Let me be blunt – Satan kicked my butt this week. He tested my faith. He tempted me to give up. He wanted to destroy all the work God has for me to do. In fact, Satan did not want me to finish this Devotion. But God, in His wisdom and truth led me to the Prayer of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles.
Jehoshaphat, a king whose name means "Jehovah is judge," was one of only a few godly kings in Judah. He tore down the pagan worship sites and dispatched priests and Levites throughout the nation to teach people the laws of God.
Jehoshaphat is best known, however, for how he handled a crisis that could have destroyed the country he ruled. When several surrounding nations gathered against Judah to destroy it, Jehoshaphat knew he was no match militarily. So he called the people and leaders of Judah together to pray. The last sentence of his prayer summarizes his heart. He prayed, “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” God answered his prayer for help and gave Judah the victory. The armies that rose up against him and Israel turned on each other and destroyed themselves.
If we are facing similar situations today that seem hopeless, something for which we have no answers, pray Jehoshaphat's prayer: "Lord, we have no clue what to do, but our eyes are on You." Stay focused on Him until the answer comes.
Are we experiencing some type of problem today? Is today the day Satan decided to kick our butt? Maybe today is the day he chooses to throw his best temptation our way. Does this describe what we are experiencing? Yes? Well there is one word for us: “Congratulations!”
I don’t want to make it sound like a joke, but the comment is a serious one. You see, problems really are an opportunity in disguise. If we have no problems we are doing something wrong. We need to learn that God wants us to see our problems and enemies as opportunities. A Christian is not someone who sees a problem in every opportunity. God wants us to think differently. God says that His children are the ones who see an opportunity in every situation.
Think of a problem we are struggling through today. Notice that the sentence says “WE ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH.” There is no “maybe struggling” in that sentence. Problems are a fact of life. Now, we need to get on our knees. Ask God to show us the opportunity that is hidden away in the struggle that will bring Him glory.
Jehoshaphat prayed, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
That is exactly where God wants us to be.
The encouragement of worshipful heart is important in the midst of problems.
Worship is our response to God’s presence.
Worship is our response as we return to Him in our helplessness.
Jehoshaphat and His people worshipped before the battle during the battle and after the battle.
Worship is a way of life. Worship of God makes God bigger than any problem we have. Let God kick Satan’s butt for a while.
Thank you to Pastor Paul Arnold for His ministry. We will miss you.
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