The Battle Is Not Yours

This is what the Lord says: "Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s." [2 Chronicles 20:15, NLT]

These words were spoken when a vast army came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat considered the size of the army before him. It was overwhelming. He knew he and his people did not have the power to overcome the army. He knew if they were defeated, they will lose their God-given inheritance. He was at a point of desperation and hopelessness. His only hope was God.

Are you hurting? Are you filled with doubts and fears? Are you fighting a battle that is draining you of all energy, hope, zeal and vision? Are you exhausted by your own efforts?  Hear the word of your loving Father today. He says, "Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but Mine". He knows your strength alone cannot make you win the battle. He wants to give you the victory. Stand still, let Him fight the battle and give you the victory today.

Prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father that You are with me and I am not alone in any battle before me. Today, Lord, I step aside and let you fight my battles for me. The battle is not mine, but Yours. I will rejoice and be glad today. I know that because you fight for me, I have the victory. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

I have heard your prayer

...This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears";...

[2 Kings 20:5]

It was pronounced to King Hezekiah that he was going to die [2 Kings 20]. But he did not lose hope. He prayed to God. His prayer came from the depths of his heart for he wept bitterly. The Lord answered his prayer. He did not die. His health was restored, years were added to his life and he was also blessed.

You may have prayed and wept bitterly concerning a situation, which to you seems hopeless. Today, your loving Father says to you, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears". Weep no more. Incline your ears to His sayings. He will give you words of peace, words of hope, bring about total restoration, and bless you.

Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God and praise Him for answered prayers.  Declare that even as this year unfolds, you will continue to see answered prayers in line with the will of God.

The Lord's Miraculous Provision

For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: "There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!"

[1 Kings 17:14 NLT]

These words of the Lord, through Elijah, was spoken to the widow of Zarephath who was to provide food for him [1 Kings 17:8-15]. The woman had very little, the amount of ingredients to make her last meal, yet Elijah expected to receive from her. But after the word of the Lord was spoken, she experienced miraculous provision daily, even in a time of lack.  

Your loving Father knows the things you need. He will never leave you stranded. With the little you have, He can use it to give you increase. He says to you today, "There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers...". Even in a period of lack, He will ensure your jars (pockets, bank accounts...) never run dry.

One thing you can be sure of is 'The Lord will send rain and the crops will grow again'. A period of abundance will always follow a period of famine.

Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for His daily provision in your life. Declare that He is Jehovah Jireh and amidst any period of famine, He will always provide for you. Ask God to use the little you have for His glory.

Promises That Have Been Tried

As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is tried. [2 Samuel 22:31a, AMP]

 

The word of the Lord in this context are ALL His promises.  Tried in this context means tested and proved useful or correct. We can rewrite the second statement of the version above as "All of God's promises have been tested and proved useful and correct".

Can you think of any one of God's promise that has proved true in your life? Can you think of any word of God that proved to be useful to you? If any one of His word or His promise can prove to be correct, then all His promises and His word are correct.

There are many people who can testify that all the promises of God have been tested and proved correct. There are many still standing on the promises of God and getting results. If you are going through any situation, there is a word of God for it, which has been tried. Your loving Father says to you today, "My ways are perfect, My word has been tried, tested and proved correct. Are you going to trust Me and My word?"

 

Suggestions for Prayer: Pray that God will show you (and speak to you) His word concerning every situation in your life. Pray that you will be faithful to stand on His word.

What Pleases The Lord

But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:

your burnt offerings and sacrifices

or your obedience to his voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,

and submission is better than offering the fat of rams..."

[1 Samuel 15: 22, NLT]

When you come into relationship with God, it may be your desire to please Him. Many respond to the love of God by going to church, serving on a committee, or giving heavily to charity. While sacrifices are good and demonstrate a relationship between you and God, what is more pleasing to Him is your obedience. The sacrifices become a ritual if it is not done out of devotion and obedience to God.

Obeying God could be in little things like when you feel a prompting in your spirit to sow a seed though you have little. You might say, 'let me wait until my salary comes in when I can give more'. It is not the amount that counts but being able to respond when He spoke to you.

Your loving Father is delighted in your sacrifice when it comes with a heart that obeys Him. It is much easier to bring an offering to the altar than to bring your will subject to His will. He knows your weaknesses (yes He has been a man) and knows that you may have struggles in obeying Him. Why not then pray for a heart that obeys Him willingly?

Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God to help you be sensitive to His voice. Pray that His word renews your spirit each day that you may have a heart that desires to obey Him. Pray that you desire the peace and satisfaction that comes with obeying Him.

Looks Are Not Everything

But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." [1 Samuel 16:7, MSG]

It is gladdening to know that God judges people by their heart not their looks. HE created everyone to be unique and HE knows the very essence of a man goes beyond the physical. A gifted singer does not need to be tall neither does an anointed pastor need to be handsome. Greatness does not depend on physical qualities.

When God looks at you, He looks into your heart. The heart is your center – the very core of your being. The heart speaks about who you really are as a person. From out of your heart flows “the issues of life”, the heart “affects everything you do”. The heart is the totality of your mind (intellect), your emotions (feelings), and your will (choices). You may have what one would regard as flaws and shortcomings on your physical, but God looks at your heart. When He honours you, it will not be based on your appearance.

When you look at people, do you judged them based on their appearance and stature? Or do you wait to find out who they really are? Do you make decisions about people based on their physical? As a child of God, you can imitate your loving Father, who looks not on the outward appearance, but Lord looks on the heart.

Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God that He does not see you the way men see you for He sees your uniqueness, your worth and your heart. Pray that you will be able to emulate this attribute of God. Also pray that as you make decisions about people, that you will look beyond their physical to who they really are.

Prosperous and Success in all you do

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success [Joshua 1:8, AMP].

It is the Lord's desire to see you prosperous and successful in all you do. The book of the law constituted the commandments God had given Moses. God knew that for Joshua to succeed in what he was called to do, he would require strength of character, which would come from submitting to the word of God.

You may know of people who were called to a noble cause yet deviated after a while. That could happen when the word of God is not dwelling richly in them.

In whatever you are doing, no matter how little or how big, you will require strength of character to obey God faithfully. This will result in prosperity and good success but will require that you 1) Study and speak the word of God continually 2) Think about it and 3) Obey it and act by it.

Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God for the desire to study His word and meditate on it. Pray for the ability to obey His word and not go into self-condemnation if you fall short of obeying Him.