Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Powerless=Powerful

"'For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.'” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NASB

King Jehoshaphat prayed this prayer as the larger nations surrounding around him were coming to attack his little nation of Judah. We don't know a lot about this king, but one thing is obvious--he was wise in the spirit because he knew the first thing to do when he heard of this attack approaching was to pray and fast--"Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." 2 Chronicles 20:3 NASB

When I read this passage, the Lord spoke to me about the correlation of that time and that prayer to our lives today. What to you do when you feel you are being attacked? Do you just put on thicker skin? Do you retaliate by getting revenge? Do you try to pull in others so that you have enforcement?

While those would seem to be the natural responses--in Christ they are the wrong ones. In Christ, you need to become powerless to be powerful. You need to have the wisdom to know that you are outnumbered, outpowered and maybe even outwitted--and be OK with it. Because once you can receive one or all of characteristics of your situation--your battle--you will be able to humble yourself and turn to the One that will really help you win whatever the battle is that you are about to be engaged in or are already in the heat of.

Jehoshaphat was a king and even as king, he didn't try to fool his people by telling them that he had it all together and that everything was under control. No. This man stood in the midst of his people and proclaimed through out the land that everyone needed to fast and pray for the events on the horizon.

Brothers and sisters, we have an enemy that is just as powerful, if not more, than the nations of Israel. We have Satan and his team and they are relentless. They will fight and try to trip you up--and deceive you--until the very end. And you cannot win it alone. You cannot win that battle with him on your own power, wisdom or even a team. Oh, don't get me wrong, it is important to have a team to help support you, but it needs to be a praying team. A team that is grounded in the word. Not a team that will just go in with their bare fists. But to cover it all, you need to seek the Lord first and let Him do what he does best--and that is to take care and protect you.

Do you feel like you have an army of trouble coming your way? Or has the multitude already come and you are in the midst of fighting a battle right now? Don't be afraid--all you have to do is get on your knees, admit you are powerless and ask your Heavenly Father for help--He will send it in the form of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Praise be our God!

"When the enemy comes like a raging flood tide, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight." Isaiah 59:19 NASB

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