Monday Morning Encouragement -- Whose Battle Is it?

 

Source: Heartlight.org

Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” (2 Chronicles 20:15)


I believe there is a spiritual battle going on in our country unlike any I have seen in my lifetime. Unless you're a Christian who's been living under a rock, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Drug addiction is at an all time high, lawlessness has everyone nervous, and the attack on the American family is unprecedented. Along with these problems -- which are only three of the many problems we're facing as a nation -- there is the splintering of the church over woke culture. 


What we really need right now is a clear vision of not only the nature of the battle we are facing, but, more importantly, who owns the battle.


In 2 Chronicles 20 we read the account of King Jehoshaphat and his people as they prepare to face a "great multitude" in battle. The king proclaimed a fast for all the people, and they came from every town in Judah to Jerusalem to "seek the Lord."


Here's what happened next: 

"And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.'” (2 Chronicles 20:5-12)


Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah in the midst of the assembly (which was all of Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, standing before the Lord) , and he spoke these words:

"Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'"


And King Jehosophat and all the people bowed before the Lord and worshipped. 


God powerfully delivered them and gave Judah victory over their enemies.


This is the same God we serve today. Jesus Christ is alive and He owns the battle! Satan is alive as well, and he means to destroy the Church by trying to divide it. However, he will not succeed! Jesus has assured us of this over and over again in the Bible. I encourage you to set aside time every day to read scripture and fill your mind with truth. Don't let a day go by without this powerful reinforcement, which Ephesians 6 calls "the sword of the Lord."


We have a part to play in this battle by fighting on our knees! We must pray and ask the Lord to help us. (King Jehoshaphat's prayer is an excellent model of how we should pray.) We must stand firm in our faith and trust in the Lord, and we must never back down and live in fear of what man may do to us. If we are opposed for speaking the truth, we know God is with us and He will defend us and deliver us. We worship and praise the name of Jesus, and refuse to budge.


You see, the battle is not yours, and it's not mine. The battle is the Lord's, and the victory has already been won on the cross! Hallelujah!


Today's music video Battle Belongs by Phil Whickham is filled with lyrics that affirm what scripture tells us. May it greatly encourage you.




I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.



5 comments

  1. I pray the Lord can give us a way to stop this unsettled state of our country. A way to bring love back into the hearts of so many and have them fear the Lord with this wrong and horrible way they are living. We need to value life no matter what anyone believes. Life is precious and such a gift from God and it should always be honored. With so many people doing evil things and not valuing human life is the toughest part of our life now. I pray that God will help us all to come to a better place and not let this get worse than it is now. Good post Nancy. xoxo Kris

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  2. Thank you for your encouraging words. Lately, it seems the more I pray, the more trials keep coming my way. It's exhausting. I know there's a battle going on and I know faith in Jesus is my only hope, but why does it have to be so hard? Thank you again for your Monday morning encouragement. I don't always comment, but I always read it. 🙏

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  3. I like that song and it sure is a good reminder.
    I've just finished reading Chronicles and was struck by how often the Israelites completely turned from God and didn't listen, then would come back and repent, and God would forgive.

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  4. Good afternoon Nancy. I'm behind this week because of some grand sitting and then helping with VBS all week. No time for sitting for sure! Such good reminders and exhortations here, Nancy. I pray that Believers will not neglect spending time in God's Word and being nourished there! And I also pray for repentance and a new life in Christ for those who are lost in their sins. Hope your week is going well.

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  5. Yes, you are so right! I love that song and it always reminds me that it's not my battle!

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