King Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord and said, “…O our God, won’t You stop them? We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”(2 Chro. 20:12)
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Reader, have you ever been in an ‘impossible’ situation? Have you ever desperately needed something, but it seemed you would never have it? Have you ever thought you had missed it and there was no future for you again? Have you lost hope thinking there is no second chance for you? Are you worried that there is no way for you out of that sin, joblessness, bondage, sickness, defeat, financial hardship, confusion, prostitution, homosexual, pornography, failure, drug or alcohol, selfishness, lukewarmness, single life, immigration problem, fornication, adultery, lust, unbelief, fraudulent practices, lying, barrenness, fear, insecurity, anger, corruption or prayerlessness?
My friend, have you ever felt that some days everything seems to get on top of you? Have you felt that sometimes nothing seems to go your way? Have you ever felt like you were just starting to get on top of the circumstances in your life and then something else went wrong? Well, I can relate to that. Sometimes, I seem to be working through the challenges that life throws at me and then another challenge jumps up in front of me. Well, if you’ve ever felt in any of these ways or feeling it now, then, I have Good News for you!
You need to know that God can answer prayers and can turn situations around. He can turn people around and when necessary, He can even change the course of nature because of you. The children of Israel were fighting the Amorites in Canaan. During the battle, Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to stop, so he would have extra daylight to finish the task. The Scripture records that this prayer was answered: The sun “delayed going down about a full day” (Josh 10:13).Did you hear that? He is the Almighty God, the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac.
It has always been said, “If you are swept off your feet, it’s time to get on your knees.” Considering this statement, one example that immediately comes to mind is King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Here was a man who had begun to lead the people back to worshiping the true and living God during his era. Suddenly a warning comes: “King Jehoshaphat, your enemies are gathered to attack you.” My friend, listen! Spiritual warfare always surrounds the birth of something miraculous. If you don’t know this, satan will ambush you and grind you to a halt. When God begins to move in your life, in your home, family, ministry, relationship, business, assignment, community, city and nation or in His church, you’ll see the difference in people. As a man or woman of vision, you should know this!
The Bible says Jehoshaphat was alarmed, just like anyone of us will do, when the enemy launched an attack on his divine assignment. But what is important is what he did with his alarm, fear, panic, concern, worries, anxiety and palpitation. The Bible says immediately he gathered the people together and prayed and said to the Lord God, “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chro. 20:12). My friend, that’s the key!
When you are overwhelmed, worried, struggling, afraid, confused or in need for a solution, who and where do you turn to? When Micah was in deep sorrow for Israel’s sins and his heart was very heavy, he prayed to God and thereafter declared: “I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7) Today, many people look elsewhere, except unto God, for salvation, healing, solution, protection or provision. Jehoshaphat’s eyes were upon the Lord, so was Micah’s eyes. My friend, how about you? Who is your source?
Listen to what David said, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1) Like Jehoshaphat, whose eyes were upon God, David went further to say, “He (God) will not let you stumble; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your protective shade. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall keep you and preserve you from all evil; He watches over your life. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” (Psalm 121:2-8) My friend, did you hear that? When your focus is on God, He keeps watching over you as you come and go, sleep and wake up, both now and forever. His eyes are always on you, from the beginning of the year to the end.
My friend, I can testify to the truth that the eyes of the Lord are always on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry… When the righteous cry out to Him, He hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. ..Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him or her out of them all. (Psa 34:15-19).Because Jehoshaphat’s eyes were upon God, He cried unto Him. In answer to his prayer, Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of God to speak in the midst of the congregation and gave the Lord’s answer: “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, stay connected and focused, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord who is with you….Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chro. 20:17).
The reason why many people don’t pray is because there are other sources than God. Listen! When your eyes are on God and you truly pray to Him in faith, (not to foreign god), He answers (Jer 33:3). This message is a picture of a vulnerable king and his people who don’t know what to do when they were faced with a seemingly impossible situation but who are completely dependent upon God. My friend, it is a great picture of what to do in time of need as you journeyed in this year. God answered the prayer of the king and dramatically altered his circumstances by destroying his enemies.
My friend, you can turn to the same true and living God today, even every day for the rest of this year, by praying the prayer of faith in desperate circumstances, and He will hear your cry. The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psa 46:1) He is your Strong Tower! But do you have faith in Him? Hear me! Prayer without faith is a wasted exercise. Jesus says, “I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”(Matt. 17:20)
Do you have intimate relationship with God? If not, today is your day of salvation. The Bible says “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:9-10). That’s what you need to do to begin your relationship with Him and be at the centre of His help. One word, idea, initiative, connection or revelation from Him is enough to sort you out forever. He is the Everlasting God, Saviour, Healer, Strong Deliverer, Provider, Prince of Peace, Counselor, Defender of the weak, the Comforter of those in need, Lifter, and Connector! Give your life unto Him! Surrender all to Him! Call and fix your eyes on Him! Remain blessed!
