The Daily Nugget- Ask God First
Hi All
Today in our text we look at people in the bible who cried out to God when they were in situations that they felt they couldn't handle. Primarily we focus on Jehosophat King of Judah who when faced with an attack by a vast army cried out to God in prayer and said “we don't know what to do but our eyes are on you”(2 Chronicles 20:12). God answered and Jehosophat was victorious(Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30). There are many other similar stories in the scriptures of God answering the prayers of those who cry out to Him. As believers, even though we know these stories and have seen God come through for us in the past we can still tend to try and solve things on our own and go to God as a last resort. We serve a God who wants us to take all our troubles to Him and lay our burdens at His feet (Psalm 55:22) and He wants to be our first option as scripture tells us “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”.
(Matthew 6:33).
Be Blessed And Encouraged
Ask God First
15 And he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you."
(2 Chronicles 20:15-17)
At some point all of us will be in a situation that we are struggling to cope with, in other words we don't know what to do. This is not something unique to us, there were many examples in the Bible of people who struggled with their situation and cried out to God in desperation for help. There was Jeremiah when called to be a prophet (Jeremiah 1:6),Moses when He was trapped between the red sea and the Egyptian armies (Exodus 14:15),David who struggled when he was called to become King (2 Samuel 7:18).
In 2 Chronicles 20 we read about King Jehoshaphat who suddenly learns a great army is coming against him. In alarm, he gathers the people before the Temple and leads them in earnest prayer: “O our God,” he says, “we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Just then a prophet declares a message from the Lord: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed . . . for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17).The next day, King Jehoshaphat puts the choir at the head of his army, and the nation goes to war armed with hymns of praise. The enemy, falling into chaos, slaughters itself, leaving the spoils and plunder to the people of Judah. Sometimes our best strategy in facing a trial or temptation is to pray, “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.”
Just as God answered the cries of Jehosophat,Jeremieh,Moses and David, He is also in position to answer us when we cry out to Him.To quote the 19th century evangelist RA Torrey who encourages us to be proactive in prayer during life's struggles."Anticipate your battles, fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have the victory."