Sunday night in my Bible reading plan, I'm in 2 Chronicles. The story below knocks me over, Spirit clearly points me to a specific situation (Sara Walker, friend in Nashville battling colon cancer). I send it to her with a note and praise God, based on verses 21-22. {read it at the bottom and come back. I'm bossy.}
Monday brings news of someone I love dearly being hospitalized. Knees to the earth. Realize that in my zeal to read Word more, I've neglected talking to Him.
Many other stressful things = feeling overwhelmed. On my knees much but feeling kind of whiny and guilty b/c I'm not actually the one hurting, hospitalized, grieving, etc. Something's off.
This morning's reading includes Psalm 35:27 "The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." Love it--that God delights in our well-being, not pain--but not making connections yet. Crazy kid-day, lots of skirmishes at Smalling Farms (in the middle of one, while trying to talk to Mom on the phone, she said: "It's Thursday, but Tuesday's coming!" (school starting), ala Tony Campolo...I so needed that!).
Finally: NAPTIME! More importantly, quiet time to finish Bible reading. Where am I? Oh yes, Psalm 35, now verse 28: "My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long."
Brings 2 Chronicles story back to mind: "Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and 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." As they began to sing and praise,the Lord set ambushes against [their enemies] and they were defeated." (2 Chron 20:21-22)
Like a ton of bricks: He wants me to be a praise warrior! That's what's missing, from even my "your will be done" prayers.
I'm far from the first to see this. Vivian McClellan, among many others, has been trying to show me this for years.
Will you join me as praise warriors this month? You may already be praising your lips off, or you may be out of the habit like me. Let's praise not just in situations where it would seem obvious, but let's intentionally praise in the hard stuff. Whatever you've been stressed over, worried about, having a hard time getting past: PRAISE HIM. Nothing fancy or elaborate. "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever." Can't get simpler than that, but what power! See if He won't set some ambushes and defeat some enemies!
Melanie aka MotorMouth :)
{One more thing: Please read "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp if you have not. That's all. What? I'm bossy.}
2 Chronicles 20:12-22 NIV
"12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.14 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 hist 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."
See it at YouVersion.com:
