Relying on God’s Strength
Another lesson from the life of Jehoshaphat our forgotten King is that he relied on God's strength.
Fix Your Eyes on God
An army was coming to take out Judah, as we read yesterday, and Jehoshaphat called the people to fast and pray. And then he prayed this great prayer on behalf of his people. There's a great line in 2 Chronicles 20:12 that says, “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.”
Have you ever been there? “Lord, I have no power in my life to face what's ahead of me. I'm drained, I'm weary, I'm tired, I'm struggling. But my eyes are on you.” Maybe this is your lesson from Jehoshaphat! You've been drained, you're tired, you're weary, you're struggling. And you've taken your eyes off of God. Maybe you need to fix your eyes on God who can give you strength for another day.
Eyes Off the Problem
DL Moody tells this story: “in Belfast I knew a doctor who had a friend, a leading surgeon there; and he told me that the surgeon’s custom was, before performing any operation, to say to the patient, “Take a good look at the wound, and then fix your eyes on me; and do not take them off till I get through.” I thought at the time that was a good illustration. Sinner, take a good look at your wound; and then fix your eyes on Christ, and do not take them off.”
I guess this is what Jehoshaphat was doing. Instead of looking at the problem, the big army fixed his eyes on God and God helped him through, gave him strength.
March Into Battle
And after he proclaims that his eyes are on God, a prophet stands up and in verses 15-17 says, “‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them… 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.” (2 Chronicles 20:15–17 NIV11)
And so hear those words today in your life. Hear them from God to you who are weary and tired. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Go out, march out and face your foes and know that God goes with you!
With your eyes fixed on him you can do it. You can handle it. You can find strength. You can overcome! That's exactly what happened to Jehoshaphat. He won the battle as he went out with his eyes fixed on God.
May it be that you and I have the courage to do that today, with our eyes fixed on God and find victory.
