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PROGRAM D-7164
If you’re up against a brick wall right now, there are some important principles from 2 Chronicles 20 to give you direction. We’re looking at seven R’s from Jehoshaphat’s prayer. The first was recite who God is, then, remember what he has done, third, recall his promise, then fourth, restate the problem to God. Let’s look at:
The fifth R – Release the problem to God.
As soon as Jehoshaphat lays out the problem to the Lord, he releases it to him.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
He admits his total inability to solve the problem. He doesn’t pretend to have any answers. But he simply says, “Lord, here it is. It’s your problem, not mine.”
That’s what Jesus meant when he invited us to exchange our heavy burden for his light burden. Just dump them at his feet in recognition of our own inability to do anything about them. That is releasing the problem to God’s care. It is evidence that we trust him.
The sixth R – Rejoice in God’s salvation
After his prayer, a prophet rose up and said,
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s… Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”
That word of encouragement did not come until Jehoshaphat had released the problem to God. When you and I keep holding on, complaining and worrying and trying to fix things ourselves, we hold back God’s plan of deliverance. He’s waiting to see your act of faith, which must come before the deliverance.
The next day, as they sat out to face this impossible enemy, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
They were praising God for the victory even before it was accomplished. And when they reached the battlefield, all they found were dead bodies lying on the ground; the enemies became confused and killed each other. Jehoshaphat’s army didn’t even have to fight. They had to show up; they had to obey God; they had to face the enemy; they had to claim the victory in advance. But once they got there, the fight was over.