In the Midst of Battle…….Turn Toward Jesus

Posted on July 11, 2018 by America's Keswick in Victory Call

We are in the midst of doing a 17-day study of the Word to unlock what God has for us as we prepare to enter into our future.  I always think summer is the time to prepare for the New Year, which for us is in September.

Today we read 2 Chron. 20 with a goal of discovering the strategy that will position us for victory over whatever might come against us in the future.  It became a wonderful time where the Lord used the story from the period of time when King Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah.

The chapter is about the time when Moab, Ammon and the Meunites all came together to make war against King Jehoshaphat.  In his fear he turned his attention to the Lord.  He called a fast throughout Judah and gathered the people together to worship the Lord.  In the place of worship Jehoshaphat proclaimed who the Lord is and the needs of the nation.  The Spirit of the Lord came upon a prophet of the Lord.  Through the prophet the Lord revealed that the battle was not theirs, it was the Lord’s.  Specific instructions were given as to where to go and what to do.  Jehoshaphat and the people fully followed the direction given, put their trust in the Lord and entered into praise.  As prophesied, while they watched, their enemies literally destroyed each other.  The people of Judah took three days to pick up the spoils of war.  On the fourth day they assembled together rejoicing and blessing the Lord.  The land was at peace.

However, later in the same chapter it reports that Jehoshaphat aligned himself with Ahaziah, the wicked King of Israel.  Bad choice.  He aligned himself with Ahaziah to make ships.  In the natural it sounds like wisdom to build ships when you are king of a nation.  But…..it does not say that Jehoshaphat sought the counsel of the Lord about making this agreement.  So what seemed like a good idea was not such a good idea.  He was aligning with someone who was wicked.  It was a bad choice then and surely a bad choice today. Because Jehoshaphat aligned with Ahaziah, God destroyed the ships.

What we learned is that we must hold each other accountable to keep Jesus Lord over every aspect of our life.  We need to seek Him with a heart of worship and trust.  We can release our needs to Him, for the battles of our life belong to Him.  He desires to take them on and carry us through the battle to victory.  If we try to solve our own issues apart from him, we may make some really foolish choices and have a bigger mess.

Makes me think of the song……Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.  Here is the chorus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

I know you and I will walk in victory as we turn our eyes upon Jesus even in the midst of the battles of life.  Not always easy to remember, but always a great place to start.

Patricia Wenzel

Patricia Wenzel Rev. Patricia Wenzel is the founder and director of a state-wide prayer ministry, PRAY New Jersey Inc., since 2002.  The ministry is committed to praying for and blessing those serving in authority positions in our state, particularly in government.  The ministry is also committed to equipping the saints to pray for those serving in government.  The vision and ministry is guided by the Word of God, in particular, 1 Tim. 2:1-4 and Is. 61:11.  Pat is thankful for the ministry of America’s Keswick.  She graduated from Women of Character in July 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Amos 1-5 |You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.”– George Mueller

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Psalm 146:5