Yesterday I was reminded of our daughter, when she was a little girl and it was near Christmas and we had used the last gas I had in the vehicle to see three people and made it home and ran out of gas. We were about out of resources and Mary prayed –“Thank YOU LORD for CHOOSING this Trial for us”……TROUBLES—always produce a RESPONSE from us -{James 1:2-4}. This morning I awoke with the verse “we don’t know what to do BUT our eyes are on You“… so I went and  read about Jehoshaphat and wrote a few observations- hope they will encourage you

Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20

Was, “afraid”…in “distress” and “powerless” but in v 12 said, “WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT OUR EYES ARE ON – YOU.”{Read and see in his prayer whom the LORD is revealed with in His character…}

Observations from 2 Chronicles 20:1-12 – 

TROUBLES/ TRIALS….

1. God sovereignly permits them and always with a PURPOSE….

  • TROUBLES can  be caused to turn us to “seek the LORD”- Jehoshaphat did
  • TROUBLES can unite others for good- others turned to the LORD to seek “help”
  • TROUBLES CAN  be used to  focus our faith and deepen our dependency upon the LORD!
  • WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT our eyes are on YOU”- v 12
  • TROUBLES can be used of God to  bring us into a deeper knowledge of Himself.
  • TROUBLES do not thwart God.

They would know in their powerlessness- He was able to deliver. In Jehoshaphat’s prayer- he keeps going back to the past–  and recall what God had done- AS FUEL FOR his faith in the fight he was presently in- “STONES OF REMEMBRANCE.” He encourages his faith in  REMEMBERING the deeds of God form the past.

THINK- Choose to TRAIN yourself to THINK about GOD’S PAST DEALINGS with people in the Scriptures

THINK– Choose to TRAIN yourself to THINK about GOD’S PAST DEALINGS WITH YOU.

TRUST – GOD WHO HAS BEEN FAITHFUL AND IS FAITHFUL!

 

WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?

TURN – YOUR ATTENTION TO SEEK THE LORD- 2 CHRONICLES 20:12

REST IN THE FACT HE SOVEREIGNLY PERMITS AND CONTROLS AND HE HAS PURPOSE – YOU WILL KNOW HIM BETTER… AND BETTER AND BETTER… MAY THIS BE ALL OF OUR RESPONSES TO- TROUBLES

YOU NOW KNOW WHAT TO DO! – TURN your THOUGHTS on the LORD, TRUST HIM!