Facing the Enemy

 Do you have a 911-prayer partner group? You know what I mean, don't you? The people you reach out to and contact when you are in need of emergency/urgent prayers? If you don't, I invite you to start praying that the Holy Spirit leads you to a small group of godly women that can become your prayer warriors at a moment's notice. Before I continue, I just want to clarify that by "godly" women I don't mean perfect. By NO means. No way, no how. The perfect prayer partner does not exist. By definition, the only requirement of a prayer partner is that the person prays. That's it. So, if someone reaches out to you for prayer, for the love of anything worthwhile in the world, just pray. Don't think about it, just pray.

Anyway, I just felt like I had to say that...but I digress...

When King Jehoshaphat of Judah heard that their enemies were on route to attack him and his kingdom, guess what he did? He prayed! But besides praying, he reach out to his people...and I mean ALL of his people. He proclaimed a nation-wide fast for all the people of Judah, which means that he basically called them to prayer because that's what fasting meant...that you were replacing food with prayer. An guess what the people of Judah did? Yes, they  "...came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him." (2 Chronicles 20: 4) Can you believe it? a whole nation coming together, unified, in prayer, seeking the Lord.  Boy, wouldn't that be nice to see today?

All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20: 13)

The King reached out to the people and they responded in mass. And guess what? Something just marvelously miraculous happened: the Lord spoke to them through those He empowered to receive and communicate His message by the Holy Spirit. He answered their prayers in a most amazing way.  He said to the people of Judah who were all gathering together in and outside the Temple:

‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 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. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20: 15-17

What an incredibly reassuring reply! God knew what the people and their earthly King needed to hear after seeking Him and honoring Him...and He said exactly that:

1. He told them not to be afraid or discouraged.  Of course, that's the first thing we need to hear when entering a battle of any kind. But when God says that to us, He means it! He backs it up with action for He is Faithful and He means what He says. Then...

2. He confirmed that the battle was actually not theirs. It was His. Therefore, He would fight it. And you know what happens when we let God fight the battles, right? Well, of course, He wins! He delivers us.

However, that's not all. There is one more thing:

3. He reminded them that even though they would not have to fight this battle, they still had to be ready, march, take up their positions and stand firm to see their deliverance. They still needed to "go out and face them tomorrow." God did not magically stopped the approach of the enemy or their attack. The people of Judah still had to go and face the enemy with courage and confidence...because He was going to be there with them.  He didn't promise to dissolve the advances of the enemy. He promised to be there to face it and to defeat it for His honor and glory and for the benefit of His people.

There are some good applications for our lives, here don't you think?

When problems, trials, struggles, difficulties, battles are seen in the horizon, with vast strength and no intention of stopping any time soon:

1. Go to the Lord.

2. Send a 911 to your prayer warriors so they can lift you up in prayer and stand with you.

3. Listen to the Voice of Truth. Take time to "be still and know that He is God" and to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. Quiet your heart and let Him speak to you through Scriptures, through the words of your prayer partners, through a magnificent sunset, through the cold rain, through the roar of the ocean, through the caress of a soft breeze.

4. And trust Him. Even when fear threatens to take over, recall His promises, especially the promise that He will be with you. Recall His faithfulness and all the times He has been there for you and how His promises are true and how He is the same today, yesterday and forever so we can count on Him now again.

5. Then, get ready to march on and face the enemy, to watch him be defeated.

6. Praise Him through it all! Worship for He is Worthy, like Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah did,

Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20: 18

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow

Praise Him, all creatures here below

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen!

Thank you for Your Faithfulness, Lord. Thank You for Your saving grace. Thank You for Your deliverance. In the Precious Name of Jesus, our Redeemer who lives! Amen.