During the reign of King Jehoshaphat, we are told of three powerful nations gathering in a unified force to utterly destroy Judah (2 Chronicles 20). Through a prophet, the Lord encouraged and instructed the people to position themselves. The battle was the Lord's and they would not need to fight (verse 15-17).
Likewise we are instructed to prepare for war by putting on the full armor of God and positioning ourselves, even in the front lines of the battle were we see the enemy swiftly advancing toward us.
In that moment, we resume the position of faith by standing on God's word. When unbelief, fear or discouragement comes, we recall and rehearse through prayer and worship His promises for deliverance, healing and restoration, even before it's evident! Remember the key words in Ephesians 6:13, having done all to be prepared, we are to stand.
Be encouraged today and stand still and watch the salvation of the Lord (Genesis 14:13). You'll never see this enemy again!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Confident Petitioning
What does it mean to come boldly into God's presence and petition Him to meet us in our hour of need?
God is unlike those who we may know in our lives that when we desperately ask for something it comes with a shrug or sigh as if to say, "Here we go again!" Or their response is conditioned on something we must do or perform. Other times their answer is half hearted and incomplete, leaving us unsatisfied and even ashamed of asking for help.
I John 3:21-24 tells us that if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God. Confidence that we can receive anything we ask of God, because we obey his commands and do what pleases Him.
When I obeyed God's word, a number of selfish petitions are eliminated. But for those petitions that I truly need to see the Lord come through, I'm confident He will respond because He delights in a life submitted to His word. A heart cultivated by obedience, which is better than sacrifice, is confident in petitioning Him.
God is unlike those who we may know in our lives that when we desperately ask for something it comes with a shrug or sigh as if to say, "Here we go again!" Or their response is conditioned on something we must do or perform. Other times their answer is half hearted and incomplete, leaving us unsatisfied and even ashamed of asking for help.
I John 3:21-24 tells us that if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God. Confidence that we can receive anything we ask of God, because we obey his commands and do what pleases Him.
When I obeyed God's word, a number of selfish petitions are eliminated. But for those petitions that I truly need to see the Lord come through, I'm confident He will respond because He delights in a life submitted to His word. A heart cultivated by obedience, which is better than sacrifice, is confident in petitioning Him.