PROGRAM W-1716 – Part II
I have introduced you to the story of Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah. It is found in 2 Chronicles 20, and it is definitely one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I encourage you to read it for yourself. If you have time, even now, please open your Bible to that 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles and follow along with me. Judah was the smallest of the two Israeli nations, with only two tribes. They were headquartered in Jerusalem, but they were small and not really equipped to fight a large enemy army.
Yet, in this chapter we learn that all of a sudden, three enemy armies were headed their way with the full intent of destroying all of them and taking over their land. We saw how Jehoshaphat responded when he heard this frightening news. He was alarmed, as you would expect, but his first move was to inquire of the Lord. Then, from the prayer he prayed as he brought his people together, we are gleaning seven R’s that tell us what we should do when we don’t know what to do. Truly Jehoshaphat had no plan of how they could ever defeat this great army coming against them. But instead of feeling sorry for himself, running away, or giving up, he inquired of the Lord.
The first R – Recite, he recited who God was, so that he and his people would be God-centered instead of problem-focused.
Then, the second R – Remember, he remembered how God had been faithful to them in times past—he remembered how God had always been with them.
So, the first two R’s are to recite who God is, and to remember what God has done for you in the past.
The third R – Recall God’s promises
That’s what Jehoshaphat did next. He said this in 2 Chronicles 20:9:
If calamity comes upon us…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.
God had given them the promise that if they would stand in his presence before the temple and cry out to him, he would hear and save them. Jehoshaphat was claiming that promise. He didn’t need to remind God of his promise; he needed to recall it himself and the people of Judah needed to remember how God had promised to take care of them.
The Bible has promises there just for you, did you know that? Have you learned to turn to God’s Word and ask for a promise when you face an impossible situation?
I remember when I first started this ministry in 1984 on one station here in Chicago. That’s all I ever figured it would be, and I was thrilled that God had given me that opportunity. Then shortly after, opportunities began to open up, and it dawned on me that this ministry could grow and become much larger than I’d ever imagined. I was frightened: I knew how inadequate I was for such an assignment, and how inexperienced I was. I really wanted to back out, but I couldn’t deny that God had opened the doors in a miraculous way.
So, I sat down with my Bible and prayed, “Lord, if this is a ministry you have for me, then please, give me a promise to hang on to as I embark upon it, because I know there will be days and times when I will want to quit.” My reading that day included Isaiah 50, and right there in that wonderful chapter was God’s promise for me. Let me share it with you:
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. . . Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:4,7)
I knew that was God’s promise to me. Those verses are now framed in my office, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone back to that promise when I’ve been discouraged, when I’ve been tired, and when I’ve been weary of the responsibility. That promise has sustained me and strengthened me to “set my face like flint” and claim the promise that I would not be put to shame.
Do you need a promise from God right now? Go to his Word and ask for it; God will give one to you, too.
The fourth R – Restate the problem to God
After Jehoshaphat recited who God is, remembered what he had done, and recalled his promises, then—and not until then—Jehoshaphat restated his problem. He prayed the following:
But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. (2 Chronicles 20:10-12)
Jehoshaphat was realistic about the problem. God never asks us to stick our heads in the sand and pretend our problems don’t exist. Instead of griping, complaining, or throwing a pity party, we need to present that problem to God with all the honesty of our heart and tell him exactly how we feel about it. That’s what Jehoshaphat did. He ventilated his anger and the unfairness of the whole situation. He did it in the right way to the right One.
The sequence is extremely important. You restate the problem after you have recited who God is, remembered what he has done and recalled his promises to you. Then you’re ready to focus on the problem because you’re God-centered instead of self-centered.
The fifth R – Release the problem to God
As soon as he laid out the problem to the Lord, Jehoshaphat released the problem to God.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. (2 Chronicles 20:12)
He admitted his total inability to solve the problem. He didn’t pretend to have any answers. He simply said, “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.
Do you have trouble letting go? It’s one of my struggles. I may let it go and then a few hours later I pick it up again. When you truly don’t know what to do and there seem to be no options open to you that are reasonable, that’s when you release it to God and declare that you trust him. Often I have used Jehoshaphat’s very words: “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on you.”
The sixth R – Rejoice in God’s salvation
This last step is really exciting. After his prayer, a prophet rose up and said this:
Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you. (2 Chronicles 20:15,17)
That word of encouragement did not come until Jehoshaphat had released the problem to God. When you and I keep holding on, complaining, 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 encouraged them again that they would be victorious because the Lord was fighting their battle for them. He 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” (2 Chronicles 20:21).
They went into the battle rejoicing that it was won. That’s the sixth R—rejoice in advance, even before you know how God is going to deliver you. You have to give these singing guys credit: They were marching in front of the fighting men, headed toward an enemy that could easily wipe them out, and they would be the first to go. But they obeyed God and praised him for the victory even before it was accomplished.
When they reached the battlefield, all they found were dead bodies lying on the ground! The enemies had become confused and had 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!
Oh, what great principles we find in this wonderful example of faith. What is your impossibility today? Do you really want to let God take control? If so, follow Jehoshaphat’s plan:
- Recite out loud who God is.
- Remember what he has done for you.
- Recall his promises to you.
- Restate the problem, spelling it out.
- Release it to God’s solution.
- Rejoice that he has already heard and answered.
The seventh R – Rest
There’s one more R that is the result of following these principles. We find it in verse 30:
And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. (2 Chronicles 20:30)
Are you in need of some rest today? Are you tired of trying to fight your own battles? Are you weary of losing them? Maybe it’s time you followed Jehoshaphat’s example: release the problem to God and let him fight the battle for you. You do have to show up; you do have to obey; you do have to march to the battlefield; but you don’t have to fight. It’s God’s fight, not yours. But first, you must let go and give him control.
We’ve prepared a bookmark with the seven R’s on it so you can keep it with you to help you remember what to do when you don’t know what to do. I’ve often gone back to these seven R’s—these seven principles—and found them very helpful. If you would like us to mail a bookmark to you, call us at 630.462.0552, or go to our website, www.christianworkingwoman.org, where you can print them out for yourself.