The enemy seeks to make you ineffectual for the
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8: 31 (NLT)
No one can be against us! None can stand against God! That is who is on our side. But we must live in those assurances. When the storms of life rise up against us. When all seems bleak and hopeless. When we are hurt, wounded or betrayed. Too often we can look at the situation and feel hopeless. God understands that we will have feelings beloved. Christianity is not an exercise in denial. But when those feelings do not align with the promises God has made us, which do we lend power to? To which do we place our faith? Do we walk in the power God has given us or do we walk in the defeat the enemy whispers into our ears?
King Jehoshaphat was facing a difficult trial during his reign as King of Israel. Reports reached him that a vast army, comprised of several countries was marching towards him to make war. Not the best of days for the king. He no doubt felt surrounded and beset on all sides. In his flesh he must have been scared. The Bible tells us he was terrified. He must have wanted to panic. Maybe thoughts of fleeing his situation crossed his mind as well. All the thoughts we battle with when we are attacked in our lives and in our walks. We can feel as the King surrounded and beset. We must react as the King did however to seek the face and the will of God with an understanding of who He is in relation to our problems:
Jehoshaphat stood before the community of
It is not enough just to seek God. We must seek Him in relation to His awesomeness. We must seek Him realizing that He is larger than our problems. We overcome the world in Him by remaining in Him. We do not allow our problems to ever become bigger in our own mind than the God who has already delivered us from eternal death. Read this prayer again from King Jehoshaphat. It is bathed in the understanding of how powerful God is. Jehoshaphat was terrified but because God was his light, salvation and fortress He remained bigger than whatever terror he may have felt. That is what the Psalmist means in our key verses when he says that even though armies surround him and how many of us have felt that way before his heart will not be afraid.
Let not your heart be troubled Jesus
has commanded us. Let your heart be not afraid. In the darkness He is your
light. When we are lost or feeling overwhelmed by the storms of life He is
the beacon guiding us to safer harbors. When death itself feels like it is at
our doorway He has already provided eternal life through the salvation He
bought for us on
Wherever these words find you today remember the last words from the key verses. When the attacks come we must remain confident. Why? Because a lack of confidence leads to a lack of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. The Word of God is alive and powerful in our lives but only if we believe it is so. We have confidence because we know God is working all things out for our good. We have confidence because He has already bought our salvation at a terrible price. We have confidence because He is the light of our lives providing the direction and guidance we need to find our way out of any impending darkness. There is absolutely nothing for you to fear today if you have made the everlasting God the fortress of your life. Remain confident that He who started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.
Reverend Anthony Wade September 21, 2010