I was frustrated and confused about what to do with one of the waitresses that I had at the restaurant my parents owned and I helped run. God’s word says in, 2 Chronicles 20: 15 that the battles you have here on earth are not yours, but God’s to deal with. That sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? But how would I go about giving those battles over to God?
Now, this waitress had been with me for a long time. So she was like family to me. Even though she was like family to me I still had to discipline her and find out why I was getting complaints about her.
So I prayed.
In my prayer time with the Lord, he showed me the story of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20: 1-30).
THE STORY OF KING JEHOSHAPHAT
Now King Jehoshaphat was in trouble. For there was a vast army approaching him in Judah. The king got together with the people of Judah and asked the Lord what they should do. They prayed to God, they praised God, and they knew that God was the only way that they were going to win this war.
Then the word came to a man named Jahaziel. And he said to King Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah this is what the Lord says to do.
"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…….You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you."
So they left for battle trusting God would take care of the rest. On the way to the battlefield, they decided to sing praises to the Lord. While they were singing praises, the Lord sent ambushes to the vast army that awaited them and they were defeated.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM KING JEHOSHAPHAT
What the Lord was trying to tell me was that I didn’t need to worry about this waitress because it wasn’t my battle to deal with. So she and I had a heart-to-heart talk about the things she was doing. And I let God take care of the rest.
God wants you to come to him for every little thing. If I would have taken care of it my way. She probably wouldn’t have a job. But the Lord told me not to worry about it and that he would take care of it.
I have the tendency, to want to jump ahead of God and try to take care of things myself.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to miss out on anything!
Your battles here on earth are not your battles. Jesus has already won the war against evil by dying on the cross for you. Sin has been defeated because Jesus died on the cross for you.
1 John 4:4 (NLT) says," But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world."
Do you remember when you asked Jesus into your heart? He gave you the holy spirit to live inside you while you live here on Earth. The holy spirit is your helper. And he is much stronger than the evil forces of this world.
ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED FROM KING JEHOSHAPHAT
I also want you to take notice that King Jehoshaphat’s army sang praises on their way to the battlefield.
Did you notice that?
When they started to sing God brought ambushes down upon the opposing army and they were defeated.
When it comes to giving your battles over to the Lord, you need to praise him for taking care of your issues. And you need to thank him before he helps you.
GOD KNOWS YOUR FUTURE
Since he has gone ahead of you and seen your future, don’t you think it would be wise to listen to what he has to say? And allow him to do his work in your life?
To be honest I am glad that the battles are not mine. Knowing that I have God, the all-knowing guiding me, helps me to know that I am safe in his arms. That I can trust him.
CONCLUSION
Friends, it is your choice whether you want to give your battles over to the Lord. He will not push you into doing it. He wants you to come to him when you are ready to. God is so patient with you and me.
I want you to try this exercise to help you give those worries or burdens over to the Lord. I want you to visualize a box. Visualize putting your battles in that box. Then take that imaginary box and place it at the Lord’s feet. When you visualize that box being at the Lord’s feet, it will help your mind in thinking that you really left your battles in that box. Now visualize you walking away. And don’t look back. Your battles are now in God’s hands!
If you would like to learn a little more about our wonderful God you can go over to my blog posts titled What is the biblical prayer of salvation or Who is God according to the bible? There I can walk you through prayer to help you receive the Lord into your life.
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