Worship and Warfare…The Battle is the Lord’s

God loves our praise; it’s a conduit to break open heaven. And yes, worship is an act of war against the enemy of our heart!

His Word

² Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,^[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). ³ Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. ⁴ The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

¹⁵ He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

¹⁸ Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. ¹⁹ Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” ²¹ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his^[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”

²² As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:2-4, 15-22

From my heart to yours

In my spiritual walk, I have had particular areas I have struggled to me put my members into death. So recently, I have sought the Lord all I know, prayed, believed and was sure it was done and over. I remember that morning as I went to bed after beautiful time in His presence; I was so peaceful and was telling myself that with the year of the Lord’s favor, all the captives will be set free.  That very day, I missed it again. I sat in my bed, cried, groaned and mumbled what I quiet can’t tell. I saw defeat. I saw helplessness. Weakness, disillusionment, brokenness and had a huge cry. I wanted to run away from all this. I was like “God, I can’t do this. I am not doing this. How do I trust You and You still permit it to happen? Why do You allow the enemy to triumph over me even when I have laid my weakness to the Cross? What am I to do Lord?”

I prayed the Elijah kind of prayer when he was running away from the wicked Jezebel. You know the prayer he was asking God to take him to be with his ancestor’s one because he was tired? I despaired. I was inconsolable. Nothing could comfort me as I sat on that bed. I complained and was asking God that because I have trusted God to watch over me and He allowed the enemy to seemingly crush me, there is nothing much left for me to do. I was exhausted. Then I couldn’t pray. As I sat there quietly, a word of the Lord came into my Spirit. The story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles and the victory that the Lord granted them. He, together with the children of Israel lifted their voice to worship and praise the Lord in the time of battle and as they praised Him, the Lord was fighting for them.

As I sat there and reflecting on the Word, one thing was clear, wisdom is knowing when the battle is the Lord’s. He wanted me to be still and see His deliverance. He wanted to show Himself strong for me so that I don’t get had headed with pride and forget that it is He who has helped me. He just wants to remind us that He is the mighty man of battle! And there I got it, sometimes victory is in worship. Worship and warfare like it was with Paul and Silas at the prison. Ascending worship caused the chains to be broken…and I bust out into a new song of praise. When you can’t pray, worship Him!
 God is fighting for us, pushing back the darkness.

Journal
Reflect on the first things that Jehoshaphat did.

·         Inquiring from the Lord

·         He chooses to mobilize people for a fast

·         Casts out any fear

·         Worships God in praise…and believes God for Victory

Whatever the battle, sing out to the Lord and let Him wage war for you. Yes, sing when cant summon the strength to pray, I say again SING unto the LORD  a new song!

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, thank You that You are my delivers, my restorer, my healer and my rock. Today as your daughters we ask that through Your Spirit, you will give us new songs to sing unto the Lord. Remind us now and again that the Battle belongs to You so that we can learn to be still and know You are God. May you teach us to sing worship, spiritual songs psalms and hymns with the confidence that as we worship, Lord You are waging war for us. Thank You for the Victory that we have in You Lord of Host. Amen

Love

Daughter of the Covenant