Take Your Position

There are times in our lives when we feel like we are up against what seems to be an insurmountable enemy. Things appear to be hopeless, and we are in a fight we think we can’t possibly win.

During times like these, we need to remember one very important thing: The battle belongs to the Lord.

You and I are involved in a spiritual war in the unseen realm. God’s Word makes it clear that we will have times of trouble (see John 16:33). But the Bible also makes it clear that no matter what we may be facing, God has a plan to help us.

You may be struggling with fear, a bad habit, relationship issues, or even a life-threatening disease. Whatever it is, when you give your battle to the Lord, you are in a position for victory.

I can say that 2 Chronicles chapter 20 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture in the Bible. It’s a chapter I’ve taught about on numerous occasions, and I believe it is the perfect blueprint for how to respond when trouble strikes.

At the beginning of this chapter, we find King Jehoshaphat of Judah and his entire army surrounded by their enemies, trapped and outnumbered.

Verse 2 says, It was told Jehoshaphat, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the [Dead] Sea, from Edom; and behold they are in Hazazon-tamar... (2 Chronicles 20:2 AMPC).

Suddenly, without hardly any warning, Judah’s army was faced with an impossible situation and seemingly no solution. Sound familiar? But it’s how Jehoshaphat responded that was truly amazing...

Run Straight to God

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, received the news that a vast army of Moabites and Ammonites was coming to attack. So, how did he respond?

Initially he was afraid, but he didn’t allow fear to paralyze him. Second Chronicles 20:3 says, Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; he proclaimed a fast in all Judah (AMPC).

Like most of us, Jehoshaphat initially felt fear, but he pushed past fear and determined to seek the Lord for comfort and guidance. He knew that only God could give him a plan that was sure to succeed.

I encourage you to read verses 6 and 7. You will notice that Jehoshaphat begins his prayer by declaring who God is, acknowledging how great He is, and even reviewing the mighty things He has done for His people. Then Jehoshaphat expressed his confidence in the Lord to handle the problem.

I can recall a time years ago when I received a bad report and needed a word from the Lord. I had gone to the doctor for a regular checkup, and they found a small lump in my breast. When they tested it and discovered it was a very fast-growing type of cancer, I was suddenly faced with not only the prospect of surgery, but also a battle with overwhelming fear.

I can still remember walking down the hall in my house and fear hitting me so hard I felt like I was going to fall down. It was so strong that I had a hard time sleeping at night. I was desperate—in a fight for my life—and I knew that I needed encouragement from God.

One night, as I was lying awake in my bed at about three o’clock in the morning, God spoke to me deep inside my heart and said, “Joyce, you can trust Me.”

As a result of this one word from the Lord, I was delivered from overwhelming fear. Although I was apprehensive as I waited for test results, I knew I was in God’s hands and that whatever happened He would take care of me.

When trouble comes and we know we are facing an attack of the enemy, our first response should be to seek guidance and comfort from the Lord. We need to resist trying to reason or figure things out in our mind or running to people for the answer.

Yes, God may direct us to a person for advice, but we should always go to Him first to show that we honor and trust Him. When we hear from God, faith fills our heart and drives away fear like nothing else will.

“My Eyes Are on You”

I love what Jehoshaphat did next. In 2 Chronicles 20:12 he prays, O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You (AMPC).

Wow! There are three very important things Jehoshaphat did in this verse. First, he admitted that he had no might to stand against his enemies. Second, he admitted that he did not know what to do. And third, he said that their eyes were on God. These three things put Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah in a position for a miracle.

In a similar way, we need to realize that we are totally dependent on God to solve our problem—we can’t do it on our own!

Again, in John 15:5 Jesus said, …apart from me you can do nothing (NIV). This is a scripture God showed me early in my walk with Him. I was a very independent person, and it took me a while to realize how totally dependent on God we really are.

Sometimes we face situations, like cancer, that we know we can do nothing about. Other times we face things that we think we “can handle.” But the truth is, we are dependent upon God for grace to succeed in every situation.

So, to follow Jehoshaphat’s example, we need to first set ourselves to seek God and hear from Him concerning the situation we are facing. We can begin by talking to God about His character and faithfulness, thanking Him and praising Him for who He is.

Then we can acknowledge our total dependence upon Him. We can pray like King Jehoshaphat did, admitting we don’t know what to do, but we are looking to God and waiting for His plan and His strength to do what we need to do.

Take Your Position

When trouble comes, the next thing to do is take your position—the position of praise.

In 2 Chronicles 20:17, the Lord spoke to Jehoshaphat and said, 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....

Then, in verse 18, it says, And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him (AMPC).

Like Jehoshaphat, when we are faced with insurmountable enemies, we need to get in position and worship God. In other words, whether we bow on our knees like Jehoshaphat or stand with our hands lifted, our battle position is one of praise and worship.

Often, when the Israelites went to battle, they sent Judah first. The meaning of the name Judah is “praise.” Sending Judah first symbolizes praise leading the way.

In 2 Chronicles 20:21, we read that King Jehoshaphat instructed singers to go out in front of the army praising God and giving Him thanks. Singing and giving thanks may not feel like the thing to do when we are in trouble, but it is exactly what we need to do!

Years ago, I was struggling with severe headaches, and the doctor put me on medication. The medicine made me feel sick to my stomach and caused a loud roaring noise in my head. I felt like I was going crazy. One night, when everyone was asleep, I felt so sick that I went into the bathroom and sat with my head resting on the toilet seat.

Just then, deep in my heart, I heard a song coming up and the Holy Spirit saying, “Sing.” At that moment, I felt a lot more like throwing up or giving up than singing. But I chose to obey God, and I started feeling better.

When Jehoshaphat saw a vast army coming against him, he probably felt about the same way I did on the bathroom floor that night. But he looked to God and obeyed Him. As a result, the victory was won.

It’s easy to praise and worship God after we are delivered from a problem—when the headache is gone or your enemies are defeated. But going the extra mile and worshipping before the battle is actually won really gets God’s attention.

Expect God to Do Something Great

The Lord wants us to expect Him to do great things for us. He wants us to watch with an attitude of faith to see how He will come through on our behalf.

As Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah followed God’s battle plan, the Lord delivered them from their enemies. How did they defeat their enemies? When Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing and praise at the head of Judah’s army, the Lord defeated their enemies by confusing them so much that they killed each other! (See 2 Chronicles 20:22.)

When you are faced with a battle and you don’t know what to do, I encourage you to follow the battle plan God gave Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah.

First, seek God for encouragement and guidance. Next, acknowledge your dependence upon Him to help you. Third, take your position—worshipping God and giving Him thanks. Finally, watch and expect God to move on your behalf.

Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord! As you seek and worship Him, you will not only be in a position to win your battles, but also to enjoy your walk with Him and your everyday life more than ever.