Understand Whose Crisis It Is

Day by Day Devotions

A 6-Day Look at a Desperate Dilemma From 2 Chronicles 20

Overview Passage:  2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Today’s study:  2 Chronicles 20:14-23

“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….You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you….Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you….Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld…. 

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set up ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, who were invading Judah, and they were defeated….”

It’s God’s problem.  Let Him solve it.

Jahaziel stood up and delivered that message from God to the people.

That is God’s message to us today, too.  We are His children and our problems are His problems.  Just as earthly children depend on mom and dad to take care of them, our Father in heaven wants to take care of us.  He fights our battles and solves our problems so much better than we can!  Our job is to trust Him to fight for us.  When we realize that God is taking care of business, we can relax and overcome our fear.

Is it time for you to resign as boss of the Universe and rely on Him? You will find that the world doesn’t fall apart and that God does a wonderful job of running things without your help.  Twice God tells them not to be afraid or discouraged.  He says the same to you today – don’t be afraid or discouraged.  God doesn’t lose battles and He won’t lose yours.

So, whatever you are going through – an uncertain future, broken relationship, raising children, new ministry, a move to another city – remember that God wants to fight for you.  He wants to work in powerful and unique ways in your life.

The situation may be bad, but God is good.  No matter how hard life gets, God is always good and merciful.  He can take the worst mess and use it for His glory and our good.

Our job is to take our position and stand firm.  We stand on the holiness of God’s character.  He is unchanging.  He is good all the time.  He is in control.  He loves us.  He is faithful.

And we stand on the truth of His Word.  He promises peace and provision and we know that He keeps His promises.

Here God’s answer to the people depended on their complete faith in Him.  He could have answered their prayer in many different ways, but He chose to deliver them in a way in which they had to have absolute faith in Him.   God’s part was to do the work, their part was to trust Him with their lives and the lives of their little ones.

They got that and trusted so completely that they praised Him even before the battle began and the answer came.  They had so much faith that they sent the choir to march and sing out in front of the army!

So, when God gives a promise, take your position of faith in Him.   Stand firm by shutting out voices of fear, worry and discouragement that will tell you the situation is hopeless.  Decide that you will wait on Him, instead of relying on yourself.  Believe that He has the answer and that He is at work.  Praise Him for His answer even before you see it.

Stand firm and see His deliverance.

Remember it is God’s problem.  Let Him solve it.

Truth:  Believe God when He speaks, give Him your problem and stand firm!

 

Nancy Peevy