Battle Plans

Lately, the Lord keeps reminding me of the Old Testament kings. They faced a LOT of battles. The Israelites had countless enemies, after all, and someone was always on the attack against God’s people. (Some things never change.) But those Old Testament kings followed a pattern that seems consistent and holds some keys for us today.

This was their battle plan:

When the going gets tough, call in the prophets. Let’s face it, many of these kings weren’t godly men. But when catastrophe would strike, they knew where real answers were found. They wanted to talk to someone who had been talking to God, (and listening for His instruction). Over and over you’ll see the kings calling for a prophetic voice to a). reassure them they had a chance or b). offer a battle plan. Sometimes the prophets would come in with a word the king didn’t like. But sometimes, as in the case of a king named Jehoshaphat, the prophetic word ended up being sage advice useable thousands of years later.

Here’s the backstory to Jehoshaphat’s story:

Many nations had banded together against God’s people and their king (Jehoshaphat) wasn’t having it. He didn’t believe any enemies could stand against God’s people. In 2 Chronicles 20 we read that he called his people to fast and pray. That’s the best jumping off point.

He made a public proclamation:

“Lord, God of our ancestors, you are the God in heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. You have power and strength, so no one can stand against you. Our God, you forced out the people who lived in this land as your people Israel moved in. And you gave this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham. They lived in this land and built a Temple for you. They said, ‘If trouble comes upon us, or war, punishment, sickness, or hunger, we will stand before you and before this Temple where you have chosen to be worshiped. We will cry out to you when we are in trouble. Then you will hear and save us.’ (v. 6-9)

Right there, in this middle of this huge prayer rally, something remarkable happened. We read it in vs. 14-15 (paraphrased):

Then the Spirit of the Lord entered Jahaziel. Jahaziel, a Levite and a descendant of Asaph, stood up in the meeting. He said, “Listen to me, King Jehoshaphat and all you people living in Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord says this to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of this large army. The battle is not your battle, it is God’s.

Okay, then. In the middle of the prayer and fasting, while giving public praise to God….God moved. His Spirit filled one of the men in the room and He (God almighty) spoke through him, saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll do the fighting.”

(Can I just pause here to say how much better things go when we take our hands off and give them to God?)

It’s the next part of the story that wows me. Jahaziel says: “You won’t need to fight in this battle. Just stand strong in your places, and you will see the Lord save you. Judah and Jerusalem, don’t be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord is with you. So go out against those people tomorrow.’”

They headed off to battle, filled with energy and joy. As they drew near the enemy, we find the another key strategy, (and this is my favorite part of the story):

Jehoshaphat listened to the people’s advice. Then he chose men to be singers to the Lord, to praise him because he is holy and wonderful. As they marched in front of the army, they said,“Thank the Lord, because his love continues forever.”

He sent the worshippers to the front lines. Why? Because God’s people always go into the battle with a song of praise on their lips. When we proclaim that the battle is won BEFORE it’s won, we’re honoring God and expressing our faith. It worked for Jehoshaphat. According to vs. 22-23, the Lord set ambushes for the enemy. Three groups fell and the rest turned on each other, not the Israelites.

Wow!

Look, I don’t know what you’re up against today. I don’t know if you’re feeling up to the battle or more inclined to climb back in bed and pull the covers over your head. But I do know one thing: God wants to fight this battle for you. But there are plans you need to put into play, a strategy, if you will:

  • Pray.
  • Fast.
  • Seek God.
  • Gather godly people around you and ask them to pray with you.
  • Open yourself up to the Spirit of God. He wants to speak.
  • Listen when He speaks.
  • Do what He says.
  • Begin to worship and praise AHEAD OF the victory.
  • Watch in awe and wonder as He fights on your behalf. Praise Him all over again.
  • Allow your faith to grow so that NEXT TIME you anticipate good things, not bad.

That’s it. That’s God’s battle plan…for anything you (or our country) might be facing. The battle belongs to the Lord, my friends. He wants to show up and show off.

As Far as It Depends on You

  • Unified

Last night, one of my daughters (who shall remain nameless) was bemoaning the fact that, in spite of her kindness toward someone, that someone responded to her in a curt, short fashion. I encouraged her to just blow it off. Then, this morning, the very same thing happened to me and I found it difficult to blow off.

Have you ever done that. . .approached someone with such kindness and compassion in your tone, and their response was anything but? It’s hard, isn’t it? If you’re a softie like me, you replay the conversation in your mind, over and over, wondering what you could’ve said or done differently. You agonize over the misunderstanding.

I’m in the middle of a Bible study on Nehemiah, (written by my good friend, Donna Snow). Today’s lesson was all about unity, (about how we’re all gifted differently, but operate under the same Spirit). That’s hard to remember sometimes because people are just so different. Some are hands, some are feet, some are mouths (yeah, that’s me), some are eyes, some are ears, etc. We all have different giftings and callings, but we’re all supposed to live unified.

After I finished my study this morning (as I pondered that gal who doesn’t seem to “get” me) I poured out my heart to God. “WHY doesn’t she get me? What am I doing wrong? Will every conversation with her be like this? I’m trying so hard to say things the right way, but she’s just not responding as I’d hoped.”

I stopped moaning and started praying, and God led me to this familiar verse: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 (NIV)

Several things jumped out at me as I read the verse: “IF it is possible.” That means there may be times when it’s simply not. There will be people we simply never get along with or agree with or share life with. And, as much as we wish it could be, it might not. There are toxic friendships, manipulative marriages, evil ties that need to be broken. (God would never ask us to align ourselves with evil, IMHO.)

Next, “As far as it depends on you” jumped out at me. I’m only responsible for me. But God really wants me to keep trying. If I know the one I’m at odds with has a vulnerable spot, I can’t keep hitting them there. I can’t send political posts meant to sway them. I can’t beat them over the head with Bible verses. I can’t push or cajole. “As far as it depends on me” I have to do my part to keep the unity between us. And that’s not always easy. I like to get my point across. I like to keep pushing until I get my way.

Finally, “live at peace with everyone.” This is a tough one. It’s hard enough to live at peace with the people in my tight circle. (We’re all so different!) But…everyone? Really? God wants me to do my best to live at peace with everyone? Ugh. That means I have to shift my entire focus and push love to the forefront, even when the responses aren’t what I’d hoped. And I have to see mankind–lost or saved–through the eyes of Christ. (Again, I’m not saying you have to stay in a toxic relationship or align yourself with someone intent on bringing harm.)

I don’t know who you’re struggling with today. I don’t know if you’re in the “It’s just not possible stage, needing to step away. Or in you’re in the the “as much as it depends on me” stage. But God wants you to live at peace. And let’s be real: Peace begins inside of you. Most of all, He wants you to come to peace inside of yourself (something that can only happen if you give your heart to Him). Doing so makes getting along with others easier. Not EASY….but EASIER.

Giants Will Fall

As I shared in my last post, I’ve been having some fascinating dreams over the past couple weeks. I’ve decided to write them down, to document them and to encourage fellow believers.

  • Giants Will Fall

About a week ago, I had a dream. In it, many Christians (pastors and others) were standing on the front lawn of a worn-down house. Out of the house lumbered a huge man—a giant, really. He was costumed in a bizarre outfit to make his size even more impressive. Out of his head, neck, and shoulders were branches (like a large bush/tree) shooting upward and outward.

The man-tree began to shout to the believers and to taunt them. In the middle of his shouts, he suddenly collapsed and fell to the ground. When he did, pieces of his costume fell away, revealing a small, frail, bald man underneath.

The believers quickly went to work, tending to this man’s needs. The took him to the hospital and cared for him and ministered to him, reviving him to health. The dream shifted and I was in a public area. A group of little children walked out, all dressed alike, like a choir. They began to sing a song of praise in the public square, so grateful to those older ones who had taken down the giant on their behalf.

I asked the Lord (because I knew, even in my sleepy state that the dream had some sort of spiritual takeaway): “Who is that man?” And I heard the words, “the mainstream media.”

To say I was shocked was an understatement. To me, most of the agenda-driven media outlets seem beyond redeemable. But I watched (in vivid Technicolor) the MSM giant tumble in the very middle of its taunts toward the church in front of it. I don’t know when. But I do know how. Prayer will change, well, anything. And everything.

Get Onboard the Ship

As individual believers we need to be like the explorers of old. Take Christopher Columbus, who, in 1492, was ready to set sail into places unknown. He had whatever equipment and knowledge was available to him at the time but above all of that he had a sense of adventure and he had faith for the journey.  God is calling us to have that same excitement in our hearts during these precarious days. We’ve got to be prayed up and ready to go wherever the ship, (our Savior), leads us. 

  • Get Onboard the Ship

In many ways the modern church is like the pilgrims who boarded the Mayflower in 1620. They were a remnant, not just escaping persecution, but  deliberately stepping onboard a vessel to take them on a journey that would open up doors to brand new experiences. They didn’t have to go. They could have stayed frozen in place and missed the opportunity altogether. Likewise, the church could sit frozen today and never realize its potential.  But, as a unit, those pilgrims took a step toward liberty. Things were not easy. They had to turn back twice because the ship they were traveling with (the Speedwell) sprang a leak. But they never gave up. They counted the cost and kept going, not for themselves, but for future generations they hadn’t even met yet.

Things might not be easy for us these days, either, but that can’t stop us from moving forward.  There will be those, like the Speedwell, who need our assistance and encouragement to make the journey. But they are meant to travel with us. God wants the church to make a conscious decision to step onboard the ship (into a deeper, more passionate relationship with Him) so that our children and grandchildren can have a future. And He wants us to do it with a sense of adventure in our spirits, not fear or trepidation. We don’t need to know where the ship will land. In that regard, we are more like Columbus than the pilgrims. But remember, he set sail anyway. Where he landed was a completely different location than where he predicted but the promise he received was so much greater than the one he thought he would receive.   

The same is true with us. God is going to pour out his Spirit once we board (commit to go deeper with Him) and the church is going to be the recipient of more power, more love, and more adventure than we have ever known in our lifetimes. But the only way we will see that happen is if we consciously get onboard the ship and head out to sea with Him.

Take a Step of Faith

These things always seem to happen to me when I’m in a twilight sleep. I dreamed I was on a busy city sidewalk (probably NY or someplace really crowded). I saw that a huge box truck was barreling down the lane closest to me, but I boldly stepped out into the street, directly in front of the oncoming vehicle.

In my dream I remember thinking, “What are you doing?” But I felt total peace. The second my feet hit the pavement, the truck was on me, just inches away. I lifted my left hand, palm toward the truck, and it miraculously stopped. (Can I just say that in the natural, there’s NO way a truck coming at that rate of speed could have avoided me….but in my dream it was an IMMEDIATE stop.)

  • Take a Step of Faith

Of course, when I woke up, I had to ask God to unpack that dream for me, so that I could make sense of it. As I walked the dogs I had plenty of time to pray and think, and this is what I think I’m supposed to share. The dream wasn’t for me, but for someone else. You’re facing something terrifying. It’s coming at you hard and fast. It seems there’s nothing you can do to stop it. God wants you to boldly take a step in faith. No fear. Step out, put that hand up to the enemy, say, “Halt, in Jesus Name” and rest assured of your safety. (Disclaimer: I’m not suggesting anyone step into a busy street!)

Whatever you’re facing, God’s already got the answer, the provision, the covering. But, face your enemy head-on, speak to him in Jesus’ name. He’ll have no choice but to halt so that you can safely cross over to the other side of the street (whatever that means symbolically for you). That “step” (into the proverbial street) is your act of faith to activate things.