Battle

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2 Chronicles 20:21 Sing Praise Going Into Battle

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

For many people, going into battle is a time of fear and trembling. No one really does not know if they are going to survive the battle or not. It is often dangerous in various ways. The level of fear increases if the enemy is larger and more powerful in appearance.

Going into battle against Ammon and Moab, Jehoshaphat had some men lead the army of Judah with singing of praises to God. They were giving thanks to God and proclaiming that His love lasts forever.

Battles are a part of life for every person. Most battles are not ones of physical fighting, as the army of Judah were fighting, but battles of the mind and soul.

The enemy of every person is the devil, who is out seeking whom he can kill and destroy. His number one focus is against believers, striving to get them to sin against God.

Often the devil looks very large and dangerous. It appears that there is no way to win the battle and that one will fail. Many will run away in fear or give into the desires of the world.

Instead of giving into the world and devil, believers need to turn their focus upon God and sing praise to Him as the march into the battlefield. When giving God praise, the believer is putting His trust in God and not focusing on how large and dangerous the enemy may be. God will give the victory, when He is given the praise and thanks.

The world is out to destroy you and turn you away from God. It is a battle for your soul. Going into battle may is never easy nor fun, but with God all things are possible.

Do not allow yourself to focus upon what the enemy looks like, but put your mind upon God. Give God praise for who He is. Give God thanks for what He has done in your past. Give God thanks for what He will do. Remember His great love for you. Then trust God to give you the victory over the enemy of your soul as you go into battle each day.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will continually sing praises to God; that you will give thanks to God; that you will know His great love for you; and that you will see God give victory over the enemy of your soul.

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1 Chronicles 7:40 Ready For Battle

All these were descendants of Asher–heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000. 1 Chronicles 7:40

Working as much as people often do, most people are ready to relax. They want to go home, sit in a recliner, put their feet up and relax doing nothing. Or they want to go out and sit by a lake fishing or some other hobby. The idea is to relax and not have to work hard anymore. Very few will look to be ready for a battle.

After listing the descendants of Asher, they are described as brave warriors, outstanding leaders and ready for battle.

Fighting a battle is very seldom the desire of most people. Only a few state that they are ready to fight. Being in a battle is being in the center of a danger zone that can injure or take one’s life. This scares most people.

While many places throughout the world are not going through a physical war, there is still a battle going on everywhere. The dark and sinful forces of this world are fighting against God and His people for the souls of every person.

Believers are in the middle of a battle that is greater than any physical war ever fought on the face of the earth. Each one must be ready to go to battle for their own lives and the lives of others.

In order to be ready for battle the believer must know God’s word to understand what the battle is, who the enemy is and how to win the battle. He must also be praying to seek God’s strength and direction. He must also put on the full armor of God.

The believer must be ready for battle at all times. As a believer, the world is against you. There is a battle for your soul trying to get you to sin against God. You must be ready to fight that battle at all times.

Hide God’s word in your heart to have a sword to fight with. Take up the shield of faith to defend yourself. Be filled with the Holy Spirit to have the power to win the battle. Allow God to direct your paths in fighting this battle.

Be ready to go to battle for your own soul and the souls of other people. Are you ready for battle?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will allow God to equip you for battle; that God will remove all fear of battle; that you will see God’s victory in every battle you face; and that you will be a brave warrior for God against the evil forces in this world.

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1 Chronicles 5:20 Crying Out And Trusting God

They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 1 Chronicles 5:20

During a difficult battle in life people are quick to cry out for help. Most often this help that they are crying out for is from other people, organizations or the government. Other times is it seeking help in alcohol or other drugs to help them cope with their difficult situations occurring in their life.

Several tribes of Israel went to war against the Hagrites and their allies. God delivered them because they called out to God during the battle, and He heard them and answered them because they trusted in him.

The world is quick to seek help from others in this world. Their focus is always on the surface of things and in the temporary fix, rather than the long-term fix of what is actually occurring. Many of their sources can help some, but it is often just for a very short amount of time.

Throughout the church many believers will also cry out for help in the same way. They have either not seen God do a great work in their life or they just plain do not trust God to do a great work in their life.

Instead of crying out for help from the world, believers should be so focused upon God and His word, that He is the first One they turn to for help. Knowing God’s word will help one to know what God has done, can do and His promises of what He will do.

This will build one’s faith to first cry out to God for help in times of trouble and have faith in Him.

At some point you will have a difficulty in your life that is greater than you can handle on your own. It may be tempting to run to family, friends or others for the needed help first.

Make God the one you cry out to first. He is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year anywhere in the world for you call.

Then believe God. Believe that He can and will help you in the best way for you and your situation. That is faith in God. And you can win the battle.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will first seek God for any help you need; that you will know God’s promises to you; and that you will trust God to help you in your time of battle.

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Judges 7:21 Hold Your Position

While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. Judges 7:21

During a battle the soldier must be willing to hold his position as long as necessary to bring about a victory. Holding a position may be extremely difficult and possibly bring about a lot of pain, leaving the position will nearly always guarantee failure or defeat.

Giving up a position allows the enemy to step into it and take greater control. Only the brave and the dedicated will hold their position until the end in victory or given relief to change position.

The Israelites, under the leadership of Gideon, held their position in a battle against the Midianites as the Midianites fled in fear.

Every believer is in a battle. This battle is for their own soul and for the souls of others. It is not a physical battle, as the Israelites were in, but a spiritual battle.

The world is the enemy and is out to destroy the souls of every person through sin and deception.

Although believers do not have to hold a physical position, they must hold on to a spiritual one. What they believe, do, say, or think are all spiritual positions that will either bring defeat to the enemy or give the enemy victory.

Throughout the Bible God has given commands, rules, and principles on how to fight the war against the enemy. As one does everything that God has directed him to do, he must stand and continue to stand, holding his position and not backing down, not giving in to the temptation to sin against God.

Holding his position with God and not giving in to sin will bring about victory for his soul. It will strengthen him and draw him closer to God and more like Jesus.

The world is out to destroy you spiritually. They want you to sin against God and will do whatever it takes for that to occur.

Know what God requires of you and hold on to that. Do not give up your position in Christ Jesus for a moment of temporary pleasure in sin. As you hold your position, temptation, the enemy will have to flee.

The world cannot stand up against the truth of God’s word and the faith in God that you hold on to. In the end you will have a victory that goes into eternity.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the truth of God’s word and commands to you; that you will hold your position in Christ Jesus; that God will give you strength to resist temptation to sin; and that you will see God scatter your enemies from before you.

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Joshua 21:44 The Enemy Cannot Hold Out

The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Joshua 21:44

Battles occur all over the world on a regular basis. Often the striking enemy is able to overcome those being attacked. This can occur because the strength of the enemy is so great, or that the one being attacked does not have the resources to defend, or that they give up in the fight out of fear.

Every so often there is a very small group that is able to defeat a very large enemy.

God gave the Israelites the promised land and then gave them rest. None of the enemies were able to stand up against the Israelites because God gave them into their hands.

Any person who is following God with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength will have some enemies. While most will not have enemies that physically strike them, there will be enemies that strive to stop them from believing in Jesus or at least distract them in their walk with God.

The most common enemy is inside the heart and mind of each individual. Thoughts will often lead a person astray, giving the enemy victory over the believer.

Jesus defeated the enemy–sin–with His death and resurrection. Then He gave believers all His authority to overcome the enemy and gave His Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen them in their victory.

Believers who choose to not stand in His promises and be led by the Holy Spirit, will be defeated by the enemies in their lives. God has given all that is needed to have victory over the enemy as long as one will take it. The world cannot stand up against a believer who is trusting in God’s promises.

You have enemies in your life that are warring for your soul and mind. It is a battle to get you to sin against God and follow the ways of the world.

God is ready to hand the enemy over into your hands and give you victory, however, you must choose to follow His ways and be led by the Holy Spirit. Do not give in or back down from standing up against the enemy, you are given victory.

Jesus has already defeated the enemy, now stand in that victory.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the victory Jesus has won; that you will stand in God’s power and authority against the enemy; that you will choose to follow God with all of your life; and that you will see God defeat the enemies of your soul.