Today is a time that few, if any, of us have ever experienced. Even the bravest find they are moving confidently forward, all the while knowing they do not know where they are going exactly! It is time to take a deep breath and be candid and confess: “I am not really sure, but I think it is this way.” After all, we can not sit down and give up. What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

I recently read a story about King Jehoshaphat, who was a good king, and yet troubles also come to nice people. He is outnumbered and surrounded and has no idea how he or the nation will survive the enemy. The king’s plaintive prayer/cry is one I find myself saying these days: “we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 chronicles 20:12)

Throughout this story found in 2 Chronicles 20, there are wonderful lessons for us today:
1   recognize that God is all-powerful v 6“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you!” Never forget that God is more powerful than any of my problems!

2    Remember what God has done    v7 “Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?” In times of crisis, there is a tendency to forget all that God has done. It is another reason we should always be counting our blessings.

3   Pray    v8-9  8 They have built a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ It is always time to pray! Pray is not just requesting; it also listening to God.
4    Keep your eyes upon the Lord. You must humble yourself before God.    v12 “Our God, will you not judge them? For 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.” God is our help.
5  Do Not be discouraged. ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s”  v15 It is easy to become discouraged. Spiritual disciplines assist us in keeping our focus on God and not remaining fixated on the problem.
6    Go out and face the issue.   “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ v17 Even though God is our helper, he still sends us out. Our faith is not one of resignation and giving up. More often than not, God gives us the courage to go and face the problem head-on.
7  Give Thanks and watch God work.   20 “Early in the morning, they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets, and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes” 

8. God’s power is released through praise. Do you have a problem? Start praising Him! Do you have an issue? Start Praising Him! Are you at a loss as to what to do? Start praising Him?

It is truly amazing what God can do! Trust, believe, praise, and watch God work in your life.

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