Our Bow of Belief

“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD…‘O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms…and in Your hand is there no power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land? If disaster comes upon us…we will stand…in Your presence…and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’” 2 Chronicles 20:3-9

This morning I had to make myself shorten one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. It is not talked about much but exemplifies a powerful way for us to pray. King Jehoshaphat got word that they were going to be attacked by a vast army. The passage begins the story of his initial reaction but also where he took his fear. It is the same person to whom we can seek when we have fearful hearts. We ‘set ourselves’ either to seek God or to fan the flame of fear. I take such great comfort in framing my prayers in the same way Jehoshaphat framed his. The first thing He did was acknowledge His fear and responded to it by speaking the message of God into that fear. He turned his words to the acknowledgement of who He believed God was…Ruler in heaven and earth, sovereign over every nation. He acknowledged that no person or future circumstances could withstand his God. He began reminding God of the ways He had been faithful in past circumstances, not because God needed a reminder. He listed God’s faithfulness aloud so his heart could feel courage. And then, in the most beautiful language of complete confidence in God the king makes a declaration. He states ‘if disaster comes upon them,' God’s presence was there with them. That as they cried out in their affliction, their cries did not fall on deft ears. Not only would God hear them, but God would save them.

Who is fearful this morning of the future as we cautiously open our doors to less restrictions? Who feels the uncertainly of reconnecting safely and in a healthy way? Who could use a prayer of proclamation this morning as we begin our day? I believe we can all use this beautiful prayer in our present circumstances. We can begin by acknowledging whatever we are feeling, taking those emotions to God. We can remind ourselves who God is and the attributes of power, strength, and complete control that He possesses. We can spend time naming the ways He has rescued us from past challenges and painful seasons. And we can wrap our prayers with a beautiful bow of belief that when we are facing troubling times, He will be right beside us and will hear us and save us. He has called us be courageous and not to fear.

‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’ 2 Timothy 1:7