BE-Gratitudes: 30 Days of Positive Attitudes – RESOLVED
November 20th, 2021
Day Twenty: RESOLVED
2 Chronicles 20:1-12, ‘After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”’ (NIV)
I wonder, o God, the victories I might see if I approached You as Jehoshaphat did, as the people he led did. If I resolved within me to inquire of You before I sought my husband’s opinion or my parent’s advice or googled an answer or researched Facebook. If when it came time to speak up in counseling those who ask me for help and guidance, I reminded them Who You were and still are and always will be; if I had them recall generations of Your past trustworthiness so they knew of Your promised faithfulness now. I wonder, o God, if I resolved that no matter what, my eyes would remain on You, attentive and awaiting Your instruction.
2 Chronicles 20:13-19, ‘All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. 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: ‘Don’t 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.’” Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.’
I wonder, o God, how it would go for me if I surrounded myself with only those who would speak into my life with godly counsel; only those who had their heart to the ground to hear from you in order so they could share Your heart for me. If I picked up Your Word and listened instead of scrolling through my Newsbreak app to see what the political powers that be were suggesting. If I sought Your face instead of seeing how my acquaintances on Facebook were handling their dilemmas. I wonder what would happen, o God, if I splayed myself out on the ground, my face at Your feet and my heart and eyes and ears open for Your instruction.
2 Chronicles 20:20-21, ‘Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, 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.”’ (NIV)
I wonder, o God, what would happen if I began giving thanks to You immediately, knowing Your love endures forever, knowing I can trust You no matter what, with anything, knowing I have witnessed You do it before and I will see You do it again. And again. What would happen, o God, if before I turned to anyone or anything else, if I would find the proper posture in my spirit to bow before You, to worship and praise You before I did one other thing? I wonder, o God, if I resolved to incline myself to You above every other chatter around me, what victories might occur. I am certain I would see enemies defeated, prayers answered, walls fallen, hearts melded, fields ready for plundering, needs met, lives changed, hope restored.
Beautiful You, what is your war story? Do you know the battle is not yours, but His, and if you’ll seek Him first and facedown, you will receive the victory you are needing?
