24 April | Youth
«For the battle is not yours, but God’s.» 2 Chronicles 20:15
Do you know the story of the battle won by singers? The Bible narrates it in 2 Chronicles 20.
They went to inform the king of Judah that a huge army would attack his people. Jehoshaphat’s reaction teaches that bad news can be fought with prayer, fasting and trust in God.
When the people gathered, the king stood before the congregation and said a fervent prayer: “nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12). Everyone, big and small, even babies in arms participated in that service. They tore their hearts before the Lord, and God’s answer came through a man named Jahaziel, who assured that the Lord would give them victory without them having to shoot a single arrow. Then the singers began to praise the Lord. In response, the Lord personally entered the fray on behalf of His people. The enemies fought among themselves, and God’s people won without fighting.
Want to know how to face an impossible battle? Start with worship. When worship begins, the battle ends. When you praise in the midst of difficulties, the enemy gets confused.
I know one thing: every time God’s people pray and fast, the Almighty releases His supernatural power in their favor. And when God’s people come together collectively for the same purpose of worship, God converts the enemy’s attack into blessings for His people. All Jehoshaphat found on the battlefield were dead bodies. The blessings were so great that it took them three days to collect the spoils.
After this great victory, Jehoshaphat and the people returned to Jerusalem and went directly to the temple to worship the Lord. They praised before, during and after the battle. It was an extraordinary victory! If God can do this for a nation, imagine what He can do for you! He can change the situation if you ‘humble yourself and pray’. He can help you in Your personal battle.
Worship is a powerful weapon in this final conflict. We should not want anything that does not come from God’s hands, but we should want everything that God has for us.