We fight...daily! We fight for more money in our pockets. We fight to buy that new vehicle. We fight to get the best looking body we’ve ever had. We fight to eat a clean diet. We fight to have the best selfie on social media. There are even people out there today fighting for their lives! I fight for a clean house all of the time; which considering the fact that I live with six males (including two dogs) and homeschool my two kids is kind of psychotic. I’m not kidding you. I have this thought in my mind that my house needs to look like a magazine at all times. I’m not sure why I’ve developed this habit but it is an exhausting one...and to be frank...unnecessary. I fight. You fight. We all fight. For whatever we see as the highest of importance. Do you notice a pattern? If you don’t let me lay it out there for you. There are two things here that are outrageous. 1. Everything we fight for we usually fight in our own power...in our own names. I think, “In the name of Tiffany, I will keep a clean house!”
2. Most of the things we fight for are for this side of eternity...the material, the physical, the things that will eventually fade away. How do you fight every day? Do you fight in your own power? Are you only fighting for the things that are earthly and not eternal? 2 Chronicles 20 holds one of my favorite stories. King Jehoshaphat had armies coming against him and instead of trying to go against them in his own power, he takes it to God! “Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.” 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 HCSB He continues with a prayer to God which ends with, “Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 HCSB King Jehoshaphat took something that was earthly, physical, personal and turned it into the eternal...to a God who is over the eternal and the earthly! He could have stopped and said, “I got this, we got this, and we will defeat the enemies in our own power and get the glory.” But that’s now how he approached the situation. The Spirit of the Lord came upon someone and spoke, “Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20:16-17 HCSB King Jehoshaphat immediately fell down and worshiped the Lord. You got to read this story for yourself because it’s amazing! So, get this...when they go into battle they do not put their strongest men up front...they put the worshipers in the front of the battle lines. They started to worship and the Lord sent an ambush and the armies were defeated. The scripture even alludes to the fact that the armies started fighting each other. But the army of Judah didn’t have to fight at all. They went in the power of God not themselves! THAT IS HUGE!!! They were even able to gather all of the plunder from all of the armies. It took them three days there was so much to gather! After they gathered they worshiped even more for God had provided in so many ways! And get this...the word says, “Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.” 2 Chronicles 20:30 HCSB REST. ON. EVERY. SIDE. How we fight and what we are fighting in life for, matters! Don’t just fight for the day to day, earthly joys. Worship. Pray. Seek the Lord. Fight for the eternal. Fight for freedom for yourself, loved ones, and those who don’t know God yet. For in the end those are going to be the battles that matter the most! And don’t fight in your own power...in your own name. Fight in the name that is above every other name...the name of Jesus! He is on your side and when you fight with Him, He gives you a fighting chance, and gives you rest on every side!
Keep fighting friends, Tiffany