Face Down Jehoshaphat

If you haven't read yesterdays blog, you might want to take a quick jog over there and catch up on where we left off. Today is a continuation of an incredible story from 2 Chronicles chapter 20. It's a story that just leaps off of the page and thrills the soul of any battle weary warrior! When we left off, Jehoshaphat had turned over a very dire situation into the hands of His God and his eyes were "solely upon Him". Listen to what God said in response,

15 ...'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'

Do you realize that the words spoken here were not just for the people of Judah back then, but they are for you and for me right now. We may not be facing an enemy army with swords drawn and ready to strike, but every day we battle just the same. Temptation, fear, anger, resentment, discouragement, different battles, but the enemy is just as real. Do you realize that if you are a follower of Christ, if you've trusted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you have the Spirit of the living God dwelling in you! If we will just humble ourselves, turn from our ways and seek His face, God will fight for us. Never forget, God always wins! Only heaven knows how many times I've made situations a hundred times worse by trying to go it alone, trying to do it my way. Look at what Jehoshaphat did next:

18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.

Face DOWN on the GROUND in worship of his God! When Jehoshaphat looked up to heaven for the answer to his greatest need, God his deliverer came down with a promise and a plan! The enemies of God were going DOWN! Does anyone else need to hear that word from God today?

So what do we need to do to have victory today?

1. Realize that the battle we are facing is not ours, but God's.
2. Recognize our limitations in the situation and chose instead to allow God's strength to work through our weaknesses.
3. Make sure that the interests we are pursuing are God's interests and not just our own selfish desires.
4. Turn the battle over to Him, and leave it there in His hands.
5. Begin praising Him now for the victory yet to come.

Always remember, God is not the I WAS, He's the I AM of my present situation and He has it all under His control!

- Lisa