FIGHTING BATTLES
13th Oct 2021
As Joyce opened her iPad this morning there was news of another of our close friends going through a battle with cancer and needing to undergo more surgery. We sent an immediate message that we were praying and standing with her in this battle.
There seem to be so many of our friends who are in the middle of battles on many fronts, mostly with sickness and disease. We also have faced the sadness of those who have died when naturally we would have wanted them to live. How do we keep our faith strong and not succumb to fear and disappointment?
A song by Michel W. Smith immediately came to mind - here are some of the words, “This is how I fight my battles, Just when you think you’re lost, It may look like I’m surrounded, But I’m surrounded by You.” The situations that are facing so many of our friends would seem to be all around them and enveloping them, but the words of this song declare, “But I’m surrounded by You.”
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat is surrounded by the Moabites and Ammonites, it seems Judah is out numbered and is facing defeat. Jehoshaphat calls everyone together and leads them in prayer. I love the words of verse 12, “O God will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do but our eyes and on you.”
God then spoke through a prophet and said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not your but God’s.” They sent to out the worshippers in front of the army and God gave them a great victory.
So how are we to fight our battles? We need to fill our hearts and mouths with worship, you can use words like this song based on Psalm 22, “And as we worship build your throne, come Lord Jesus and take your place.” Don’t let the battle hem you in, but know that you are surrounded by the presence and power of Jesus. When you look at the situation know that your God is greater than anything that can come against you, even as you declare, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
by Charles Sibthorpe
