Listen to Audio Devotion

2 Chronicles 20:12
“…for there is no power in us before this great multitude that is coming against us. Now we do not know what we shall do, for our eyes are upon you.” –

This is actually an end to an long prayer of King Jehoshaphat. He gets to know that Judah is going to be attacked soon. He realizes that his nation isn’t capable of facing 3 armies that are heading to destroy them. Afraid of what’s going to happen, he seeks God in prayer through a nationwide fast(v. 3-4).

God speaks to them saying, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”(v. 15).

The story is even more amazing when we see how God delivers Judah and how they comes out victorious, singing and praising God. But, we can learn at least two important things from what Jehoshaphat did in this scenario. First, he realized how weak he is. Second, he seeks God for he knows to a certain extent how strong God is.

I don’t wish to over-spiritualize this text, but hear me out. Today, we face temptations in 3 ways: from our flesh, from the world, and from satanic forces. You don’t have to go too far without the help God to realize that you don’t stand a chance against these forces on your own. You’ll be knocked out before you realize what happened. So the first step is to acknowledge that you can’t do it.

Second, is to acknowledge that you can do it, but only and only with help from God. He ends the prayer saying, “we do not know what we shall do, for our eyes are upon you.” There are a lot of moral behavioral fixes that the world tells us to lean on: self-reflection, finding that inner-strength, looking inward. It’s a bunch of garbage, designed to keep you hooked onto the never-ending cycle of habitual sin. There’s a famous song called Hotel California by The Eagles, a song that is considered almost demonic in Christian circles, for various reason that I don’t want to get into. The song ends like this, “…you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Does that reflect the battle with temptation in your life? Do you feel like you can refrain for some time, but go back into it again? God says, that “that the battle is not yours, but [His]”.

I don’t really know what obstacle you are facing in your life. As Jehoshaphat did against an unbeatable army, let’s turn to God and fix our eyes on Him.

Prayer

Lord, if you are for us who can be against us. Your love endures forever. Our mind cannot comprehend your strength. You give us the strength to crush this obstacle. It’s your battle, not ours. Help us to be faithful to you through it all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.