PRAYING AND LETTING GOD FIGHT YOUR BATTLES
“The battle is not yours, but God’s.” This is what God tells his people who pray and trust him for help in dealing with their adversaries and adversities. (2 Chronicles 20:15).
THE LORD GOD BATTLED FOR HIS ANCIENT PEOPLE
ISRAEL. A large alliance of three armies, including Moabites, Ammonites and Meionites, was coming to war against the Israelite people of God. King Jehoshaphat led the people of God in prayer and praise, as he sought the Lord’s help. The Spirit of the Lord said: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours. But God’s.” The people of Israel did not have to fight. God caused the three armies to fight against one another until they destroyed each other. When the people of God arrived on the scene, they simply collected the spoils of the battle. (2 Chronicles 20).
DAVID. Saul was in conflict with David over who would rule the people of Israel. Nevertheless, God chose David to replace Saul as king, because God saw David as a “man after his own heart;” and a man who relied on (1 Samuel 13:14; 15:28).
THE LORD GOD FOUGHT FOR HIS MORE RECENT PEOPLE
PAUL. The Lord overcoming many adversities for his apostle Paul is an example of God fighting for his New Testament people. Paul had all kinds of adversities; but in praying and relying on the Lord he found God’s “grace is sufficient,” and “his power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Following is only a partial list of relatively greater problems Paul said he overcame by the grace and power of the Lord (2 Corinthians 11:23-29):
“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again…. in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. … often gone without sleep:I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
Paul wrote the following advice to the people of God seeking his help: Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6).
THE LORD GOD FIGHTS FOR US TODAY
AGAINST SIN AND SATAN. Having disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities of the devil the Lord made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 6:12).
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)
AGAINST A WORLD OF ADVERSITIES. We face adversities related to personal, physical, psychological, familial, financial, social and other problems. However, we can pray, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
If we pray, our Savior and Lord God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
