The unknowing always challenges us to our core. We are created with this intense need to know how things are to turn out. Are we going to be taken care of? Will God really step in when we see only obstacles?

Over the last several weeks I’ve been mulling over 2 Chronicles 20. I’ve read it multiple times. I’ve shared about it in our small group at church and I shared it at our YWAM Community Night gathering. It keeps swirling in my mind because I desperately want this kind of faith.

In 2 Chronicles 20:2-4 a man came running to tell the King of Judah “A huge army is coming from Edom to fight against you. Jehoshaphat was alarmed. So he decided to ask the Lord for advice. He told all the people of Judah to go without eating. The people came together to ask the Lord for help. In fact, they came from every town in Judah to pray to Him.”

Jehoshaphat was tempted to turn to his own wisdom in this situation. A massive army was coming to attack him and his people. Time was of the essence. Many people would ask why would the King stop and ask God. He needed to “DO” something. The army was closing in. 

When circumstances seem overwhelming and decisions need to be made right now what do you do? Do you try to make sense of it and force things to happen or do you STOP ask God and fast? So often when I’m walking with someone in a crisis I ask them, have you fasted and waited on God? And 9 times out of 10 they will say “No”. 

Why is that? Why does the body of Christ not think to stop, fast and ask God in times of crisis. We have become too self sufficient. We can look up anything we want on the internet. We can hop in our car and head over to someone’s house and discuss our problems with them. We can watch a self-help show and so many other options. 

But to stop, fast and wait on God is such a foreign concept. Yes very often the body of Christ will fast at the beginning of the year asking God for direction for the church or for that year and that is great. But has that become our regular practice throughout the year. God wants us to truly depend on Him and believe that He will work on our behalf. But if we are not in the habit of turning to Him and waiting on Him to answer it can be a very difficult task. Yet Jehoshaphat gives us a beautiful example.  

“Lord, you are the God of our people who lived long ago. You are the God who is in heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. You are strong and powerful. No one can fight against you and win.” 2 Chronicles 20:5

Not only does Jehoshaphat fast and wait for God to answer but he proceeds to proclaim who God is. Jehoshaphat wasn’t doing this for God he was doing this for himself and for the tribe of Judah. So often when attacks come or obstacles look bigger then we can handle we need to stop and remind ourselves who God is. 

Why is it so easy to recount all the horrible things that are happening to us and how devastating the obstacles look? It’s the world’s natural bent. However, as we begin to recount who God is and what He has accomplished our situation doesn’t seem so bleak. Instead, we will feel ourselves bubbling with expectancy. 

With that same expectancy building “Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem also bowed down. They worshiped the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:18. Once our hearts are filled with faith God longs for us to worship. Positioning ourselves to receive the blessing He has for us. Believing that He will act on our behalf. If we fast but continue to complain and fret how can God work on our behalf? We need to position ourselves with thanksgiving and adoration for the living God so that we are ready to receive what He wants to do.

Once the people of Judah had positioned themselves to see the blessing of God they proceeded to walk out their faith. Instead of sending out warriors they sent worshippers. (2 Chronicles 20:20-28) They trusted God so much that they didn’t have a backup plan. They fully surrendered to His word and sent out worshippers to where the battle was to take place. Can we say this is what we do? When the attacks come do we go boldly to the front lines with praise on our lips and no guns drawn? I truly wish this is what I do every time. There are definitely moments I do this but too often I try to make sense of things and put my plan into place rather than allowing God to work on my behalf. 

Yet as the tribe of Judah went forth with confidence and praise God showed up. The army that had come out to defeat them turned on themselves and destroyed one another. When the people came around the corner praising the Living God there lay their enemy! 

Can you imagine? Those that held the instruments must of truly been crying out to the Lord as they marched towards their death if God didn’t show up.

There have definitely been experiences in my life where I’ve stood praising God believing that He was going to show up but at the same moment my flesh was crying out. Would He show up? What would happen if He didn’t. These thoughts have tried to grip me over and over again as I’ve fought my own battles. Yet God has shown up again and again that I can’t help but continue to turn my focus back to the Living God, praising Him and fully worshipping Him with faith that He will show up!! 

Today, let’s stand together as we fight our own battles. Let’s choose to fast when we need answers, remind ourselves who our God is and march forward worshipping Him with expectancy that He will show up and fight on our behalf.