I hoping that you had a wonderful day of Thanksgiving and that you took opportunities throughout the day to look around and say thank you for the blessings the Lord had provided.
When I got up this morning my heart was filled with gratitude for life’s victories. We never like going through the battles but the victories are worth remembering. We’ve all had them; the battles with health, finances, relationships, and emotions. Some of you have faced actual battles (war, military conflict, disasters) and that, I know nothing about. But I am grateful for each and every one of you who have fought those battles for me.
I remember the words of a young shepherd boy named David. He told King Saul that he was prepared to meet the giant Goliath because God had given him victory over a lion and a bear. The small, sometimes daily, battles that we fight prepare us for life’s bigger conflicts.
The secret is to remember that we didn’t succeed in the smaller skirmishes by our own efforts, it was by the help that God gave us. So when the larger battles come our source of strength and power is the same.
I’ve told you about King Jehoshaphat before but I want to relay a couple of things from his battle this morning.
“ Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “There is a large army coming against you from Edom. They are coming from the other side of the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazazon Tamar!” (Hazazon Tamar is also called En Gedi.) 3 Jehoshaphat became afraid, and he decided to ask the Lord what to do. He announced a time of fasting for everyone in Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to ask the Lord for help.” II Chronicles 21:2-4 ERV
Three armies were getting ready to descend on the small kingdom of Judah. They outnumbered. It was definitely a battle they couldn’t win on their own efforts.
“Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God in heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms in all the nations. You have power and strength. No one can stand against you. 7 You are our God! You forced the people living in this land to leave. You did this in front of your people Israel. You gave this land to the descendants of Abraham forever. Abraham was your friend...12 Our God, punish those people. We don’t have the strength to stop this large army that is coming against us. We don’t know what to do! We are looking to you for help.” verses 6,7, 12 ERV
The first thing we must all do when we see the battle coming is admit that we don’t have the power to do it on our own and that we need strength that only the Lord can give.
“Jahaziel said, “Listen to me King Jehoshaphat and everyone living in Judah and Jerusalem! The Lord says this to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or worry about this large army, because the battle is not your battle. It is God’s battle! 16 Tomorrow, they will come up through the Ziz Pass. You must go down to them. You will find them at the end of the valley on the other side of the desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Just stand there and watch the Lord save you. Judah and Jerusalem, don’t be afraid. Don’t worry, because the Lord is with you. So go out to stand against those people tomorrow.”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem bowed down before the Lord and worshiped him.” verses 15-18
The Lord will give us the direction and wisdom we need. We have to show up for the battle but it’s not our battle. Once we pray about it and ask the Lord for help, it becomes His. Our part is to not worry or be afraid; God is able.
I’m not sure what battles are before us today. But I am thanking God that He is on our side! He has prepared a way of victory! I won’t be afraid.
“ So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. ” Romans 8:31-32 ERV
AMEN!