LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, November 19, 2020

How would you respond if the United States was threatened with war by a powerful and seemingly overwhelming enemy, and the first people the President mobilized to defend us was your church worship band?

Take a look at that exact scenario in 2 Chronicles 20. The nation of Israel is being invaded by a powerful conglomerate of three nations. In fear, King Jehoshaphat set his face to seek the Lord, and commanded all the people to fast and also seek the Lord. As they prayed they reminded God of His past victories on their behalf. They also asked God how it would honor His Name to allow these nations that had been spared when they entered the Promised Land to now capture them and take away God’s promised inheritance.

Then the Spirit of the Lord speaks through Jahaziel and says, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”

Immediately King Jehoshaphat fell to the ground in worship, and all the people iof Judah joined him. They took God at His word and immediately started praising Him for His promise of victory.

The next day, as they went out to battle, Jehoshaphat reminded the people to believe what the Lord had said, and then in an act of incredible faith, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD to go before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” The worship team led the army into battle, and they sang loudly as they went.

Meanwhile, as they sang and marched, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. The battle was over before the army even arrived.

There’s a great lesson here for all of us. When we praise God, and give thanks to the Lord for His promises, the fulfillment of those promises is already accomplished before we even know we need them. Praise and thanksgiving initiate the power of God to fulfill the promises of God on our behalf.

So the next time you are afraid, set your face to seek the Lord. And when you hear from Him, begin to praise Him and give thanks that His promise will be fulfilled. Your march into battle will have a surprise ending.

Pastor John