Our initial response to bad news or trials is fear. That is natural in our human state; because, fear awakens our senses so we can respond. Fear is an internal alarm that forces our senses to respond by either seeking shelter or preparing to defend ourselves. That is exactly what happened to King Jehoshaphat when the armies of multiple nations came against he and the children of Judah. Because of fear, King Jehoshaphat began to pray and called the people to pray. He knew that the only hope to be victorious in battle began in fervent prayer and a song of praise.
2 CHRONICLES 20:3-9
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, And said,
O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
4 KEYS TO VICTORIOUS PRAYER
First, Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord. There is no substitute for personal, intimate time with God. Yes, it is good to join with others in worship and prayer. Community worship is very important; but, does not negate the need for personal time alone with God.
Then, Jehoshaphat called the nation to prayer. Particularly in those matters which grieve our hearts most deeply, we need a prayer chain. That prayer chain can be a small group, the prayer group of a ministry we follow online, a church’s prayer team, or your family. Depending upon the need, I have used these varying prayer groups at some time in my lifetime.
Thirdly, after having been alone with God; Jehoshaphat began His prayer with praise and Glory toward God for all He had done and all His promises. That is why it is important to have a journal of God’s Victories in your own life. Begin, your need based prayer with reminders of previously answered prayers and with scriptures concerning God’s promises to provide help in the time of need. Bringing praise and Glory to God for His Word and for all He has done, is the best place to start in prayer. Not only does this bring Glory to God; it also calms your own heart; because, you realize He has Sovereignly guided every step of your journey and He is not about to abandon you now. In other words, it reminds you of How Great God IS!
Then, fourthly, he listened and waited for God to answer.
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.
FAITH TO ACCEPT THE ANSWER
Three large, very strong armies were coming against the people of God. God told them to go out to battle; but, they would not need to fight. Think about it! God sent them into battle, not to fight; but to trust Him fully. How often do we fail to trust God; after, He tells us “He’s got this!” Truth is He’s always got this; whatever, this is and we allow our hearts to continue to fret. Well, how did Jehoshaphat respond?
2 Chronicles 20: 19-21
And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever.
Did you see that? They arose early and placed the worship team in front of the army. They were singing praises to God, for His Righteousness, Holiness, and Mercy. Quite an army and spectacle that must have been!
GOD’S RESPONSE TO PRAYER AND PRAISE
Because they had fervently prayed and then in faith lead the battle with worship song; when they arrived to battle, all the enemies had killed each other and they did not have to fight at all.
And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 2 Chronicles 20:22-24
Don’t get me wrong, in our case; I am not saying all your enemies are going to fall over and die. But I am saying, that their evil affects against you will be dead. Whether that be circumstances, people, illness, or trials; because God is in control, no power can be victorious over God’s Beloved Children. If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior; know this: “nothing can separate you from His love.”
ROMANS 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]In Christ Jesus, we have the victory over every trial we face. [/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior; know this: nothing can separate you from His love.” username=”effiedarlene”]
[bctt tweet=”We are Victorious over Every Obstacle in Life through Prayer and a Song of Praise” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Sing forth the wonder of Who God IS and Claim the Victory He has Promised[/tweetthis]
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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