Let’s Claim Our Victory
Have you ever been to a wrestling match? I never attended one until my oldest son Jonah decided to try a wrestling clinic when he was 11 years old. He fell madly in love with the sport and brought his younger brother, Isaac, along for the ride. They are both now varsity wrestlers at their high school.
Wrestling meets are not for the faint of heart. I witness my beloved babies out there on the mat pushing themselves to the ultimate limit physically and emotionally. They gather every ounce of strength humanly possible to defeat their opponent while simultaneously their opponent is putting in all of their strength to defeat them. These matches often end with literal blood, sweat, and tears. They walk away bruised, battered, scratched, breathless, and exhausted.
This can be what we feel like when we are battling things in our life. We pour our hearts, minds, and souls into fighting the battle with ourselves, our spouses, or our circumstances. We think we are battling a war with the assumed culprit but in reality, we are fighting a spiritual battle that is taking place in heavenly places. We can’t see this war but we can see the effects in our lives.
These battles leave us battered and torn.
In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about Jehosaphat. He was living in sheer terror of the war being waged against him. “Then it was reported to Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude has come against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram: And behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar. The Jehoshaphat was afraid and set himself to seek the Lord: and he proclaimed a fast throughout out all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:2-3)
If only we could be this sound-minded to take the battles we face directly to the Lord. Instead we invite our fears to tea, and sit down with self-doubt and shame. What if we brought them before the Lord first and proclaimed a fast for a time? What if we took them directly to the one that could fight the battle for us with full, unfettered victory?
The people obeyed, fasted, and prayed as they faced these battling giants. Jehoshaphat declared His trust in the Lord as he declared Him to be ruler, powerful and mighty over all, and that no one can stand against Him. (V.6-7)
He goes on to say that no matter what happens to them, be it judgment, plague, or famine, they will continue to stand before their God and cry out to him.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” V.12
This is a beautiful proclamation and a life-changing way to live when we struggle.
We do not have to resign to the fact that we have anxiety, fear, doubt, or many other things that threaten to enable us.
We can look to Jesus to rescue us.
We often believe the lies that this is just how we are or that nothing will ever change.
We have an enemy who wants us to be rendered useless, confused, and bound up in the chains of difficulty.
What if we could have Johoshophats faith and bring it all to Him when we have war waged against us?
But too often we get comfortable in our struggles.
Let’s open our eyes to the agreements we have made with ourselves, or become aware of the lies that ensnare us.
Let us claim the VICTORY we have in JESUS!
In Verse 17 we hear the Lord say “ You need not fight in this battle: take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the Lord who is with you, Oh Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
The Lord won the battle for them.
The Lord will win the battle for you.
“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4
How can we practically live out the victory that is available to us through Jesus?
*Submit to God and resist the enemy. (James 4:7) We can easily rebuke what is going on in our life but first, we must submit our entire lives to God. This could setting a side a time of prayer and fasting or anything that show God you are all in.
*Spend time surrendering it all to Jesus. Ask him to show you what lies you are believing about yourself or your situation.
*Praise God for who He is and thank Him for all He has done.
