The Bible tells us the story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and that a vast army was coming against him for a war. 2 Chronicles 20:1-2
Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; he proclaimed a fast in all Judah. And Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord [yearning for Him with all their desire].
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 AMP
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 AMP
You and I will face great troubles in life, and just like King Jehoshaphat, we may fear, after all, we are all human beings. But the king's attitude made the whole difference; while some people get so discouraged and unmotivated with their problems; the King set himself as his vital need, to seek the Lord with fasting.
Jehoshaphat did a powerful, meaningful and mindful prayer as it described in 2 Chronicles 20:6-12
If evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You--for Your Name [and the symbol of Your presence] is in this house--and cry to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save. 2 Chronicles 20:9 AMP
Calamity, chaos, troubles and bad things can come against you and me, but God will listen and answer to sincere prayer. The Prayer of Jehoshaphat was not a shallow prayer, he was praying with his spirit and mind.
Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it. (Job 35:13 NIV) God does not listen to empty words and that is the reason some prayers are not responded. Examine yourself and see how deep, sincere and meaningful are your prayers. Perhaps you are not even praying lately or never prayed at all.
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV
We can see that the King acknowledged that they had no power to face the vast army that was coming against them. They didn't know what to do, but their eyes were upon God. To keep the eyes upon God is an attitude of deep faith. Normally when things go from bad to worse some people tend to focus on the problems and they end up defeated.
Is it hard to put our eyes on God when everything is collapsing down? YES!
Is it impossible? NO! It requires faith, perseverance, prayer, fasting and obedience to the Word of God. To put our eyes on God means not to be measuring the height, width or depth of our problems. But instead, contemplate the greatness, the power, majesty and glory of God!
After Jehoshaphat prayed, the Lord spoke and He said: The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15 AMP
You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.
2 Chronicles 20:17 AMP
2 Chronicles 20:17 AMP
Nowhere in the Bible we are told to be reckless and lazy towards our life or problems, but we can see that despite of the Words of courage from God, He commanded them to take their positions and to go out against their enemies.
God is with you and me, we have to take our position towards our situation through prayers, fasting and by following what the Lord will tell us to do. The Lord is always faith and action.
And they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper. 2 Chronicles 20:20 AMP
Although the Lord Himself said that the battle was HIS, the King and the people rose early in the morning and they went out against their problem. By that time they didn't have Bible as you and I have today, the Lord used to speak His Words also through the prophets.
It means today that we have to believe and remain steadfast in His Words which is the Bible and by doing so we would prosper and be established.
King Jehoshaphat and his people took their positions just like the Lord said; the battle was about to start and the King and his nation instead of panic, unbelief or blasphemy against God; started singing and praising the God Almighty!
When he had spoken with the people, he called those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy clothing. They went out in front of the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord. For His loving-kindness lasts forever.” When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set traps against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah. So they were destroyed. The men of Ammon and Moab fought against the people of Mount Seir, and killed all of them. And when they finished with the people of Seir, they all helped to kill each other. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 NLV
While the King and his people were all singing and praising God, their enemies fought and killed themselves.
There is so much power in prayer, fasting, believing, obeying, worship and praising! That was what they did and this is what we shall do as well, without omitting any of them.
Are you facing a hard time? Have you poured your heart to the Lord's feet? We shall pour our soul and tears on His feet and then we have to listen His instructions and do according to what He says, believing and remaining steadfast. And when face to face with our worse problem we should worship and praise our Lord because His loving-kindness lasts forever.
Be blessed. Amen!
Apostolo Valdemiro Santiago http://www.impd.org.br/portal/
Bishop Pierson Abe http://impdjapao.org/home/
Bishop Salomao Barboza salomaobarboza@gmail.com
Apostolo Valdemiro Santiago http://www.impd.org.br/portal/
Bishop Pierson Abe http://impdjapao.org/home/
Bishop Salomao Barboza salomaobarboza@gmail.com
