I was reading 2 Chronicles 20 as part of my daily bible reading plan. Too often these books just pass me by.

It’s a story about King Jehoshaphat. He gets word that a multitude of people are coming from across the dead sea to attack them and try to take their land. So Jehoshaphat calls together all the people of Judah and declares a fast and they all begin to seek the Lord and pray for deliverance. As they were seeking God he spoke through a man in the crowd, named Jahaziel, saying, “The Lord says this to you; Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down to them. Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord (Who is) with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

And they WORSHIPED Him. King Jehoshaphat stood and said (vs.20), “Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper.”

Then they appointed singers to sing to the Lord and Praise Him.

This is what I love. They began to worship God and sing praises to Him BEFORE they had received their victory. So many times and way too often we receive a promise from God and we wait until he has fulfilled that promise to worship. We need to praise Him BEFORE we receive our promise, BEFORE we receive our deliverance.

Vs. 22 says that when they began to sing he went and set ambushes and those who were coming against them self-slaughtered.

I get chills just thinking about that. Do we really realize how big our God is? That whatever we are facing, whatever challenge is before us or scheme the enemy has to entangle us, He is able and can turn to make it destroy itself without having to put up a fight at all.

We are just one month in from the start of the discipleship program here, The Summons. There has been one attack after the next and at times I feel like all we are doing is fighting the enemy. It’s exhausting, but my view of God is expanding. I am seeing how if we just recognize how big he is and worship Him regardless of what we are facing, regardless of whether we have received our victory just yet or not, how freeing that actually is. Suddenly when my eyes are fixed on his greatness and his ability, whatever the enemy throws our way doesn’t seem like much of a threat at all. I know in light of his greatness whatever the enemy has worked up next God can turn to self-slaughter itself. I do not need to be worried or afraid, just faithfully worship Him for who he is trusting him every step of the way.

I want to encourage you guys with whatever you may be facing or whatever may be coming against you to simple worship, sing songs of praise, step back and see the greatness of God. Believe and remain steadfast. He will take care of the rest.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us. We recognize that what we are doing is making the enemy mad and we appreciate all of your prayers as we continue to take new ground for the Lord.