A PRAYER GOD DELIGHTS TO ANSWER -- Devotional for May 25, from "Good Seeds"

It was reported to King Jehoshaphat that a great army of the enemy was coming against his people. He was much afraid, but he turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast. Representatives gathered from the four corners of the land to cry out to God together in their distress. Then Jehoshaphat earnestly prayed, “O our God, we are powerless before this great multitude, nor do we know what to do – but our eyes are upon You!” (II Chronicles 20:2-5,12)

When we think of great leaders in world history, the names of Moses and Alexander the Great and Napoleon and George Washington come to mind. I now would like to add one more to the list: Jehoshaphat. But if a leader is not allowed to be afraid, then his name would have to be stricken, for when he got the news of an impending attack by a superior army, he started shaking in his royal sandals! But fear does not disqualify good leaders – it defines them! They confess their fears, but then carefully analyze their dilemma and quickly formulate a plan of action. This godly king honestly admitted two weaknesses: 1) I’m scared to death; 2) I don’t know what to do. But he didn’t let time-wasting complaining or soul-destroying worry eat away at his chances for survival. He knew that “doing beats stewing” so, although he was clueless as to the right military action to take, he knew enough to know this was a job for God – and no one else! Oh that our military and political leaders today would do what Jehoshaphat did! First, he called a fast. He didn’t ask the people to do what he was not also willing to do: to put aside all their own strategies and resources. Fasting is a vivid act of practicing what you preach: telling God you value whatever He has to offer more, even, than your natural, bodily needs. Job said it this way, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). And so, this godly leader gathered his generals, not to plan their defenses, but to get on their faces! They brought nothing to the drawing board but humble hearts. What a prayer for you and I to pray, whenever we meet vicious enemies or impossible odds: “O God, I am powerless before this _____, neither do I know what to do… but my eyes are on You!”