Here is mine. It's from my daily devotional that strangely comes only 5 day's a week via email. I guess Saturday we don't need any and Sunday most go to church. Anyway it's a good one for today.
Whose Battle Is It?
by Rick Warren
“But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
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In today’s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They’re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites.
Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, “You will not have to fight in this battle.” Now, that’s the kind of battle I like!
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: “The battle is not yours; it’s mine. You don’t have to fight in it.”
In other words, it’s God’s problem. Let him solve it.
The fact is if you are God’s child, then your problems are his problems. And he’s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. Perhaps the reason we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged Christians is because we think, “It all depends on me.”
The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you’re going to find that it doesn’t fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, “Don’t be afraid,” and “Don’t be discouraged.” When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don’t be afraid and don’t be discouraged. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn’t lose battles.
There’s an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, “Take your positions and stand firm.” What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God’s will for you to run from a difficult situation. I’ve discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. Why?
Because God wants us to learn – and he wants to teach us through experience – that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don’t be afraid; fear is the opposite of faith.
You stand firm on two things:
The character of God – He’s faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn’t bring you out on a limb and then cut off the limb. Have faith in the nature and character of God.
The truth of his Word – God’s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
3 comments:
Most Christians don't get this. They sing, "Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching, as to war." The preachers look at the Hebrews in the Old Testament taking Canaan as their home, and rouse the Christian "troops" to take over business, the city government, or land for a new sanctuary.
Yet careful reading of the New Testament shows Christians as being a caretaker army after the battle's already been won, like the GI's in Germany after WWII.
The "armor of God" in Ephesians 6 is for defensive, not offensive purposes:
"Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
The last battle described in Revelation has Christians as witnesses as Jesus slays the enemies of God:
"Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
It's the sword in His mouth, not swords in our hands, that defeat the enemy in the final battle. We remain white and clean. When we realize that we only have to stand, not to fight, it gives us great peace to know the battle has already been won.
Would you mind telling me who you are? I would really enjoy replying but feel funny doing it to someone who is being anonymous.
Sara, I was just reading this comment and thinking, "Yes, this is right. I agree with this." Then all of a sudden it hit me, and I asked the man across the room if he had left it. Yep, guilty as charged! It was my dear hubbie!
(He left it as anonymous, because he doesn't have a blogger account.)
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