TRUST IN GOD...

Jehoshaphat and the Choir That Led an Army

 

God corrected Israel and Judah for turning to other nations instead of Him in time of need. But a faithful king shows the results of trusting in God.

God told His people, the children of Israel, that if they obeyed Him they would enjoy amazing blessings (Deuteronomy 28:2-4, 11-12). And He would provide protection: “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways” (verse 7).
Unfortunately, throughout most of their history, they missed out on these blessings. They did not obey God, and they did not trust that God would protect them and deliver them from their enemies.
But on just a few occasions, there were righteous kings who truly tried to obey God and lead the people in the right direction. And when they did, blessings and miracles happened.
The story of Jehoshaphat and the choir that led an army is one shining example.

Jehoshaphat, a king who sought God

Jehoshaphat was a good king we read about in 2 Chronicles 17-20. He was the son of Asa, another good king of Judah, and he “sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments” (2 Chronicles 17:4). “His heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” (verse 6).
Jehoshaphat sent out leaders to teach the people about God and His way of life (verses 7-9). He set up judges and cautioned them they were judging on behalf of God and should “take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7).
And God blessed Jehoshaphat and his kingdom.

And then comes trouble

But then Jehoshaphat faced a trial. He heard that the armies of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir—“a great multitude”—were coming to fight against him and Judah (2 Chronicles 20:1-2).
Jehoshaphat did the right thing. His example is a lesson to God’s people today about how to handle a looming threat or trial: “Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD” (verses 3-4).
They fasted and they prayed! The people of Judah gathered together at God’s temple, and Jehoshaphat prayed. His prayer is inspiring and faith-filled (verses 5-12). Jehoshaphat remembered what God had done for His people in the past, and he knew how much they needed God’s help now. He said: “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

The answer came

After such a powerful prayer, the men of Judah, their wives and their children stood in the temple expectantly. How would God answer?
Then, the Bible records, “The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel,” a Levite of the sons of Asaph, perhaps a musician who served in the temple.
“Thus says the LORD to you,” Jahaziel said. “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you” (verses 14-17).
Jehoshaphat and all the people with him bowed to the ground in worship of God who had given them the answer they had looked for. And then two groups of Levites stood up to praise God with “voices loud and high” (verse 19).
The next day they rose early in the morning and went out to the place God had said.
As the army was getting ready to go out, Jehoshaphat encouraged them: “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (verse 20).

 

The king appointed a choir singing praise to God to lead the army. After all, the battle was God’s and the end result was certain!
And so, the army marched out with singing: “Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever” (verse 21).

Deliverance and blessings come from God

The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how it happened. What we’re told is: “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated” (verse 22). For some reason the armies of Ammon and Moab fought against the inhabitants of Mount Seir who were with them. And when they had killed them, they turned on each other!
When the people of Judah came to the place where they could look out on the wilderness, they only saw dead bodies! They did not have to use any weapon—the battle was already finished.
Their only task was to gather spoils from the fallen armies, though that was no small task. There was so much precious jewelry and valuables that they were busy gathering it for three days!
They named the place “Valley of Berachah,” or “Valley of Blessing” (verse 26). And truly God had blessed them. They had faced danger by turning to God for help and deliverance. They trusted God and praised Him in advance, and God intervened mightily for them. He completely removed the threat and turned it into a blessing.

Lessons for us today

God cares about His people today, just as He cared about the people of Israel and Judah in the Bible. When we seek to obey Him and follow His way, He will give us blessings. But that doesn’t mean we’ll never have trials or challenges. When those hard, scary times come upon us, we must turn to God—praying, fasting and studying His Bible.
We must see that we can’t handle the challenge on our own. We need God’s help. We must recognize that God has taken care of His people in the past, and He can be trusted to take care of us now. An answer from God might not come as fast or as clearly as it did to Jehoshaphat. Still, when we seek God and do our part to turn to Him, we can go forward, trusting God to take care of us.
We might not know how long the problem will last or how much we will be challenged, but we can know that in the end God will save us and turn it all to blessings.

GOD IS ON OUR SIDE NO MATTER THE SITUATION

Deuteronomy 3:22 says, “Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.” Just after the king of Sihon and the king of Og were defeated by the Israelites, Moses instructed Joshua to have no fear when he led the people into the promised land. Just as God had given victory to the nation under Moses, so, too, He would give victory to Israel under Joshua if only Israel would trust and obey. We are not fighting literal kings and literal armies, though we do fight the spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). Our call is not to fear evil or cower before the devil. The devil can only do what God gives him permission to do. Even though he has rebelled against God to set up his own kingdom, he knows that he is not the supreme power. This is why, for example, he had to ask God for permission to afflict Job and his family (Job 1:12). God had a plan for Job to sanctify him and use him to teach countless others great lessons about suffering and the sovereignty of God. When we read the accounts of Job and of Israel as they entered the promised land, we should be moved to have confidence that the same God who delivered them from their foes is the same God who can deliver us from our foe, the devil, today. In Christ, we have the victory. No demon and no scheme of the enemy can defeat the child of God or force him or her into sin. Because of Christ in us, the enemy must flee when he is resisted (James 4:7).

 


Not only, however, do we not have to fear the forces of darkness, but we do not have to fear mere mortal man. People can be difficult. If you have ever been teased, bullied, or made fun of in school, you understand. If you have an annoying neighbor or co-worker, you understand. If you have ever been given a raw deal and have been taken advantage of by another person, perhaps even a professing believer, you understand. It is easy to become angry at the person and desire to take vengeful action. It is easy to take matters into our own hands and begin to fret and worry. Sure, there might be some things we can do to try to be at peace with others and to defend justice, but ultimately we must put our hope in God. The command from Moses to Joshua was “Do not fear them.” Who is your "them" that you fear? Who is the "them" that frustrates you to no end? Who is the “them” that is a thorn in your flesh? God’s call to Joshua and to us as well is not to lose hope or give in to sinful measures simply because of the schemes and ways of evil man. What is man, after all (Psalm 144:3)? We serve a powerful God Who goes by the name of Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides. There is nothing He can’t do. When we are pressed against the wall by our enemies and have every human reason to fear, God can deliver. He is the One fighting for us. When a relationship is just going nowhere and is just plain difficult, God is the One fighting for His children. When we are attacked, insulted, or mocked, God is the One fighting for our cause. Sometimes situations are easy to rectify, and other times it just seems as if the wicked are going to win because there is nothing we or anybody else can do to stop them. Sometimes the wicked do prosper (Psalm 73:3), and the righteous do suffer (Matthew 5:45). Our hope, however, is that God is just, justice will ultimately be served, God will avenge all wrongs (Romans 12:19), and He is on our side, taking up our cause. God is in our corner. May we always remember that, no matter what opposition or struggle we face. He is the One fighting for us. We are weak; He is strong. We are feeble; He is powerful. With us alone, the task is impossible. But with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). What a mighty God we serve, and how wonderful it is that He fights with us and for us to accomplish His will in our lives. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? In the end, righteousness always prevails because God gets the final say come eternity and judgment time.

Are you backed up against a wall? Or maybe you know someone else who seems to be in a sure bind of the enemy with no hope of escape. Why fear, when the Sovereign of the Universe, the One Who is in charge of it all, is on the case? God is always on call, always available, and always present. He is the One fighting for us. Political measures might fail. Personal influence might not get the job done. Money might not solve the problem. One’s strength and resolve might not be enough, but God knew we would be in these strenuous kinds of situations all along. He wants us to see our helplessness so that He can be our Help, our Hope, our Deliverer, and our Provider. Whatever the situation and predicament, call to God and do not fear because He is the One fighting for you. And in this case, One is more than enough.

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JESUS MY FIRM FOUNDATION

Jesus Christ told His followers that a stable foundation is critical in building lives. He said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:24-25). The foundation of Jesus Christ is what will give us the stability our hearts and lives need now and into the future.



By allowing the Lord’s wisdom to guide us in our relationships, decisions, and priorities, we find that He provides the most trustworthy foundation any life could be built upon.

Gracious Father, You are the Lord God, the King of heaven, and I choose to place my hope in You because You alone are worthy of my trust.

STRONG TOWER

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.

 

The Name of the Lord signifies all that God is in himself - his attributes, his love, mercy, power, knowledge; which allow man to regard him as a sure Refuge. "Thou hast been a Shelter for me," says the psalmist (Psalm 61:3), "and a strong Tower from the enemy." The words bring before us a picture of a capitol, or central fortress, in which, at times of danger, the surrounding population could take refuge. Into this Name we Christians are baptized; and trusting in it, and doing the duties to which our profession calls, with faith and prayer, we are safe in the storms of life and the attacks of spiritual enemies.  

The righteous runneth into it (the tower), and is safe; literally, is set on high; exaltabitur, Vulgate; he reaches a position where he in set above the trouble or the danger that besets him. Thus St. Peter, speaking of Christ, exclaims (Acts 4:12), "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "Prayer," says Tertullian ('De Orat.,' 29), "is the wall of faith, our arms and weapons against man who is always watching us. Therefore let us never go unarmed, night or day. Under the arms of prayer let us guard the standard of our Leader; let us wait for the angel's trumpet, praying." Septuagint, "From the greatness of his might is the Name of the Lord; and running unto it the righteous are exalted."  

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Ways God Speaks to Us Today

1. Through His Word in general.
2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is “God-breathed.” His Word sometimes gives us a warning, a word of encouragement, or a lesson for life. It’s ”His-story”–written with love as God’s guide for life, “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
That means God is whispering, and sometimes shouting, all through His Word, giving us instructions and principles for life. As we interpret Scripture by other Scripture, we avoid the false logic and misinterpretations that sneak into our world. If someone claims, “God told me to go kill my neighbor!” would you believe him? Of course not! God never violates His own Word or principles. That “voice” does not belong to God.
I needed help for raising my children. God “told” me about that in His Word, especially in proverbs. Marriage difficulties? God spoke about that as well. Times when I was afraid? I “heard” Jesus’ words to His disciples as they feared for their lives one stormy night: “Peace, be still!” and it was as if God was speaking to me, too (Luke 8:23-25).
2.  Through His Son, Jesus Christ
The New Testament was the fulfillment of God’s special plan. It’s the gospel: the good news of Jesus Christ. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” Hebrews 1:1-2, NIV).
Through the words of Jesus in Scripture, we can “hear” God’s heart and God’s voice–and know what God is truly like. These words were not written for a few, select individuals who could jump through the right spiritual hoops (“For God so loved the world…”). Someone in Africa, in Germany, in China, and in Alabama can “hear” Jesus’ voice by reading the same Bible.
Comparing us to sheep and He as the Shepherd, Jesus says in John 10:27, NKJV: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Why? Because the sheep know who He is. They belong to Him, and they recognize Him by the sound of His voice. And He’s the one who will always lovingly lead them on the right path–again and again.
3. Through Nature and God’s Creation
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse ” Romans 1:20, NIV). Through the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that God has made, we can “hear” His voice. How? By observing the ant’s strength to store up food all summer long, we learn about wisdom and industriousness. By studying the heavens, we understand more of God’s greatness. And through planting and growing a garden, we “hear” about miracles of death and rebirth. God designed–and spoke them all into existence.
4. Through Other Believers
God may use a friend, a teacher, a parent, or a preacher to convey His message of truth to us. Their words may come as a warning, a blessing, or as a prophetic truth about our lives.Whether we choose to hear it or ignore it, depends on us. Do their words line up with Scripture? Will God confirm or affirm that truth in us? “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:17, NIV).
I’ve “heard” God speak to me numerous times through other people. A good friend once cautioned me about flirting with danger. Words from a speaker or Christian author have both challenged me and convicted me at times. And I’ve “heard” God talking to me through my own children as their pure and honest words cut clear to my heart and spirit, reminding me of God’s true priorities.
All these things may not sound to you like ways of ”hearing God’s voice,” but it’s possible to reduce God to our own image if we insist on Him acting or reacting a certain way. God is bigger than that. He once spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28). Why then, can’t He speak through anyone at anytime or in any way He wants to?
Bottom line is that if we are His children, God loves us unconditionally and will spare no expense to show us. Our part? Believe Him!
Hearing His “audible” voice would no doubt cinch His reality in an awesome way. But I’ve never heard God through an angel’s message. I have no taped recordings to tell you what God sounds like. But I have heard God “speak” through the above ways–and in a few more. Read on.

5. Through Music

Perhaps one of the ways I can sense God’s presence the most and “hear” His voice the best is when I am praising Him through music. Maybe it’s because in times of depression and difficult trials in the past, I would pour over David’s songs in Psalms, often singing them back to God with my own tunes. Praise brings me instantly to attention, like a sergeant’s command to his soldiers. The words and the notes bring a soothing comfort, excitement, and passion that open my ears and heart and lift my spirits immediately.
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faced a huge army of enemies who could have easily destroyed His people, but he did a strange thing. With a declaration that his eyes were on God, he sent in a choir of praise singers: “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NIV).
God “spoke” clearly. He released His power, and Jehoshaphat’s army defeated their enemies!

 

6.  Through Circumstances

When others claim to hear God through circumstances, I try to caution them to test their conclusions with other evidence. God is a Holy God, and often uses circumstances to get our attention. But He will usually confirm it in other ways.
This happened to us before my husband and I married. We were dating in high school and were both involved in what could have been a deadly accident, when a speeding pick-up hit our car broadside. Through that accident, my husband felt God had a special purpose for his life. Did he “hear” God’s literal “Yes?” No, but through much prayer, seeking God’s Word, and talking to others, he felt God’s confirmation. Several months later, he committed his life to full-time Christian service.
Someone once told me they just knew God was telling them it was okay to buy a brand-new pickup. They’d prayed about it, and circumstances confirmed it: the local car dealership had just the color and model they wanted. But there was one small problem they were neglecting. They couldn’t afford it on their income. And they ignored other red flags as well.
Through Moses, God used circumstances (plagues) to convince Egypt’s leader to release God’s people from slavery. But Pharaoh wouldn’t listen.
Sometimes God uses our circumstances to test our faith. We don’t always know how to interpret the things that happen to us. I recently took my first trip in an ambulance to the local ER–unfortunately as a patient. My pulse, along with my blood pressure, dropped dangerously low. For several minutes my world looked like a spinning photo negative. Scary, to say the least. Four hours of testing later found no cause as to why it happened. The doctor pronounced me healthy and sent me home, after encouraging me to get a follow-up–which I did. Nothing showed up.
I don’t know if God was speaking to me about something special, but the first thing I did was tell Him I was listening! If nothing else, life–and loved ones–suddenly became much more precious to me. One of the first things I usually ask God when circumstances change is: “God, is there something you want to teach me through this?” Yes, I know everything is “fodder” for writers. But I want to make it personal and learn the lesson first.

7.  Through His Spirit

I once heard someone teach about “minding the checks” in your spirit. Some may call it “God’s whispers,” while others say, “God’s still, small voice.” We are made in the image of God, and when we confess Jesus and follow Him as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit comes to live in us (John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16). God’s Spirit speaks to us through our conscience, helping to make the right decision. When we’re tempted, that same Spirit warns and nudges us to do the right thing.
As a writer, I depend on God’s Spirit to give me direction. There are times when ideas pop into my mind totally unexpectedly–and sometimes directly after a plea for help from God. The good ideas I credit to God, because after all, He is the source of every good and perfect gift. The others? They’re in file 13. Even the good ones need developing and rewriting, but that’s a different subject.
Why do you suppose ten people can “hear” a sermon, but each person will walk away with a different truth that applies to him? In some cases, the speaker never spoke what the people say they “heard.” Many times, that may be the result of God’s Spirit speaking a personal “Rhema,” a living, breathing word of truth to our spirits. It’s when Scripture comes alive to us–because it is truly “God-breathed.”

8.  Through Prayer

Each way I’ve shared that God may speak to us today meshes into the other. God often speaks to us through His Spirit, through prayer. We may not know how to pray, but God’s Word tells us His spirit makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26-27).
Often through a combination of fasting and prayer, our minds become clearer and our hearts are more sensitive to God. Again, we may not hear God’s literal voice, but His Spirit confirms a certain direction or answer for us. As the distractions fade, we can sense His leading in a new way. Sometimes while praying, God’s Spirit will remind us of a Scripture or a truth in His Word that we can directly apply to the situation.
Does that happen immediately? Not always. There have been occasions where I still had no clue what to do, but in faith I thanked God whenever and however He would answer. A day, a week, maybe even months pass. Then one day in the shower or on a walk, a thought comes–that gentle “whisper” that could only come from Him, accompanied by His peace.

You Are Unique

Does God speak to all of us the same way? No, we are all unique. Are these the only ways God speaks today? No. He’s a creative God. He speaks so many ways, including through miracles. In other countries where Christianity is taboo, God is also revealing Himself repeatedly through dreams. Report after report confirms that an unbeliever who has never heard of Jesus dreams of Him–but doesn’t know who the “man” is–or what the dream means. Then a messenger comes, shows a film about Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the one who has dreamed recognizes the man in his dream: It’s Jesus, the Son of God!

Remember One Truth

Regardless of the way God chooses to reveal Himself or “speak” to us today, remember one truth. He will never contradict His Word, and the message He gives will always bring glory to God. The Bible warns about adding anything to the already written, God-breathed Word of God, or accepting any other messenger who claims to be superior to Jesus (Revelation 22:18-19;2 Corinthians 11:4).

LOVE According to the BIBLE

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be?
And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.
Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.
It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.

WHEN YOU FEEL SO DOWN, LIKE U ARE ON YOUR OWN......

We lose our way,

We get back up again

It's never too late to get back up again,

One day you will shine again,

You may be knocked down,

But not out forever,

Lose our way,

We get back up again,

So get up, get up,

You gonna shine again,

Never too late to get back up again,

You may be knocked down,

But not out forever

(May be knocked down but not out forever)

Sooner or later I swear we're gonna make it, we're gonna make it,

Milk and honey till we get our fill

I'll keep chasing it I always will

Sooner or later I swear

We'll make it there

Sooner than later