I am reading the Daily Devotional by Lysa Terkeust: Unglued. It is a great devotional for those of us who are driven by emotions and struggle to keep our minds on what is true, pure, lovely, noble, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).  Do you have imaginary arguments with people? Or do you have imagined scenarios where you tell the person/ persons who have done you wrong how, why and what? Gosh, me too. It always ends with me distressed. These things have not even happened and are based on my perception of what I think they think. Anyway, that is slightly off topic, except that going in to battle I think we need to make sure we are really gearing up for battle, you know? We need to know who we are fighting. We know that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). So although I have wasted precious energy arguing with the people who are not my problem, I have still realized I have an impending battle on my hands. Lysa Terkeust discusses the below passage of scripture in her book “Unglued” and how these passages apply to her situation. I just love how she did this and, as I now know, there is definitely a battle coming, I want to learn how to win.

Therefore, without further ado, please turn with me to 2 Chronicles 20 and read verses 1-30.

Just some quick background: in 2 Chronicles 19, Jehoshaphat did the right thing – turning the people back to the Lord, administering justice and so forth and right after that, in chapter 20, the ‘ites’ mount a major offensive. Go figure. Someone rushes to tell him the terrible news. This dude doesn’t come running to say: “The ‘ites’ are coming but your God is AMAZING and AWESOME, and you a bad ass who God has promised to protect, and promised to destroy anyone who even dares to come against you, so let’s smoke these suckers.” No. It’s more like: “What are you going to do? The biggest army I HAVE EVER SEEN is on it’s way here and for sure you are going to LOSE. You are not qualified and under-equipped, and God, well, even if He exists, probably wouldn’t bother saving you because I mean, well look at yourself.” Swiftly followed by: “We are all going to DIE!!!!”

Jehoshaphat has reason to be concerned. This is a combined force of ‘ites’ that he is facing. The kingdom of Israel is divided so they are also dealing with family dysfunction, can I get an “Amen”. The tribes of Judah and Bethlehem are way, way, way outnumbered. These ‘ites’ are always causing trouble.  The ‘ites’ have always oppressed God’s people because they were serving idols or doing evil in the Lord’s sight so Jehoshaphat probably thought, “What have we done now? He is probably like, “Oh no, not again!” I have been trying to turn the people away from idols. This is too hard! God, I try do good and what do I get? Why God?”

So yip, Jehoshaphat is ALARMED but, here is where the story gets good, he RESOLVES to inquire of the LORD. He proclaims a fast for all Israel (verse 3). He lays it out to God. He prays and reminds God (himself) of what God has done in the past and how faithful He has always been. How patient and long-suffering God is. How God didn’t treat them as their sins deserved because then they’d be scum. Instead, God keeps recommitting to His chosen people, over and over again. God then sends some good news his way. A prophet speaks truth to him and tells Jehoshaphat something like this: “Go get them!.” The prophet reminds Jehoshaphat, and the others listening, that God is a BAD ASS (am I allowed to call you a bad ass – yes – yes!). God also gives them some insight into the enemy strategy, for example: this is where they will come up from, and when.

So “early the next morning” (2 Chronicles 20:20) they set off. It is important to note that Jehoshaphat didn’t hesitate. He took the initiative and he approached the enemy. Jehoshaphat consults with the people, and they all agree to send the choir on ahead.  Right, so there goes the choir; those choir guys probably never thought they’d be at the front of the army. Maybe they were like, um, really? But they do it anyway. So the whole army is singing praises. I am going to guess it was “Every Praise” by Travis Cottrell that got them shouting and stomping. Followed soon thereafter by “Do It Again” (feat. Travis Greene). The Bible says at the very moment that they began to sing praises the LORD caused their enemies to turn on each other and by the time Jehoshaphat arrived the enemy was totally wiped out. And if that was not enough, Jehoshaphat and his army plunder the ‘ites’ and “gain vast amounts of equipment, clothing and other valuables – more than they could carry” 2 Chronicles 20:25. In fact the Bible says it took them three days to collect all the plunder. They called the place where this happened the “Valley of Blessing”. They went from facing a mighty enemy and potentially suffering destruction and instead they didn’t even have to fight. Then they collected all their enemies’ stuff: leather goods, silver bangles, bronze weapons, maybe some nice rugs, horses, sheep…cashmere sweaters… I don’t know. But it was good stuff. THEN (I know what you are thinking: ‘can it get any better than this’?), and yet it does. The best part I think is that no one messed with Jehoshaphat ever again and he was given rest on every side (2 Chronicles 20:30).

I have been challenged and inspired by this story. As I mentioned already, I am facing a battle, against an enemy too strong for me. I face almost certain disgrace and losing something valuable to me but, this time, instead of getting all wimpy and “unglued”, I am like, right, let’s do this. I know I am not perfect but I know I belong to God. I know I am not sinless but I am pursuing righteousness hard. I know whose side I am on. I always thought before that maybe God would want me to be under siege for years, having my resources dwindling and constant threat all around but I have decided that is bullocks. That is not what He wants from His people. He tells us to march out and face the enemy. To commit the battle to the Lord and then watch the Lord win the battle on our behalf. That is the strategy every time. So I am going after it, expecting the Lord to defeat the enemy, aka the forces of evil in the heavenliness that has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, who don’t even know why they do what they do.

Based on the above, this is my strategy for this battle:
Step One: When you doing good expect an attack.
Step Two: Inquire of the Lord. Fast and pray. Pray a bold prayer. Remind God what you are after and what is at stake. Remind Him what He has said in His word. Remind Him of why this is a battle where His glory is at stake.
Step Three: Pay attention to the word of God, i.e.: read the Bible.
Step Four: Obey without hesitation what you feel He is saying to you. In this case: “Go, the Lord will fight for you”.
Step Five: Consult with your people. Get your prayer partners to pray for you.
Step Six: Praise the Lord. Have yourself a praise party. As Tony Evans says: “Get your praises on”. Thank Him for His faithfulness and His love. For His power and His deliverance for His people. Thank Him in advance for the victory.
Step Seven: The enemy is defeated.
Step Eight: Receive rewards for faith.
Step Nine: Experience peace.

Right now, I am in the middle of stages 1 through 7 but I know, the battle is won and until  I see the miracle I am expecting, until I see the earthly manifestation of the heavenly reality, I am going to keep doing Steps 1 through 7. My enemy may as well pack it in. The battle is won. Hallelujah!