Assistance with Fighting Battles

ASSISTANCE WITH FIGHTING BATTLES, an excerpt from Kristi's book TRANSFORMED:

 In 2 Chronicles 20 when King Jehoshaphat saw that a multitude of people were coming against him, he could have gone into hiding. He could have come up with a battle plan all on his own. But how did he respond as a believer in the Great I Am? He ran to the Lord! Not only did he turn wholeheartedly to God, but he instructed all the people to fast and pray with him (2 Chronicles 20:3). How did God the Protector respond? 2 Chronicles 20:14- 17 shows:

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: ‘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. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

The Lord responded by declaring that He would fight the battle. All the Israelites had to do was take up their positions, stand straight, and watch God work. He wanted them to stand in faith and not fear, so He reminded them that they were not alone. How awesome to receive this response when not knowing what to do.

See, the Lord wants each of us to know that one benefit of believing in Him is that we do not have to figure things out but rather do what He instructs, and He will fight for us. How many times do we engage in conflict when it was never meant for us to tackle alone? Honestly, I know I could have avoided some situations altogether if I just would have followed King Jehoshaphat’s lead. Sometimes, we complicate matters more than was ever intended. I remember a time when I was so stressed out from the church plant closing that I was physically sick. As I leaned over the toilet , I heard the Spirit speak to me and say, “It doesn’t have to be like this. Get up and walk in My strength.” Instantly, I stood up and no longer felt nauseous. A song came into my mind, that says I don’t live by how I feel. All day I quoted that song and Psalm 91:1 where it states that those who live in the shadow of the Almighty shall remain stable and fixed (AMP). I reminded myself that I was stable and fixed in Jesus. I continued to place one foot in front of the other, worked all day, and never felt that stressed out or anxious again during that time.

How did the situation turn out with King Jehoshaphat? The Lord fought the battle and won mightily. Because of this, the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms around them, and the Israelites had peace (2 Chronicles 20:29-30). Oh friends, if we would just allow the Lord to fight our battles, peace would exist as the prominent outcome. God can do the same for you. Turn to Him, and ask Him to take over for you so you can rest. When God is on your side, He provides direction, wisdom, and strength. The terms of the battle are the Lord’s alone. Just be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).

The part in between the prayer and the outcome is imperative to identify. What did the Israelites do as they waited for the breakthrough to come? They praised and worshipped the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:18-29). The pressure was off them to figure everything out and implement a specific plan on their own. They knew who was in their corner, which brought peace and rest. Zechariah 4:6 declares, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Additionally, when we recognize who the battle is really against—Satan, then we learn that people are not the problem. Yes, the enemy works through people, but they are not our foe.

Stand still today!