Corona Devo 909
I read a delicious and healthy morsel of Scripture today. Oftentimes we can find the Bible dry or even unappetizing, but God's Word was written with love to encourage and educate us...and delight us.
The Bible packs a punch and provides the spiritual nutrients that we need to live healthy lives for God. But it's a special treat when verses not only teach us, but also fortify and fill us up. That's what God's Word does for us today.
There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. (19) They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. (20) They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. (21) The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. (22) and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s... ~I Chronicles 5:18-22
We are all up against something today. Each of us is headed into battle against the world and its sinful ways...but that's pretty abstract. We each have (very tangible) trials, battles, and temptations that are waging war on us today too.
But remember today Who fights our battles.
We (of course) should be ready. We must train ourselves in God's Ways and his Word. It's our responsibility to be prepared as Christ-followers.
There were 44,760 capable warriors...They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. ~I Chronicles 5:18
Perhaps we are in a period of peace today, or we may feel under attack from all sides. Sometimes our struggle is internal, and other times we battle in public.
Our culture is coming at us and our Biblical-beliefs and stances with accusing voices and bully tactics. Just in case your faith is lukewarm, here's a news flash: We are at war.
They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. ~I Chronicles 5:18
We are God's children. You and me, and them. He loves all of us.
But those in active disobedience and defiance of God have waged a war on Him. We may (be trying to) represent God's people and family, but the battle is ultimately His, and we mustn't forget that. It is both a weighty realization and a freeing one.
We can feel outnumbered, out-resourced, and in-the-minority as soldiers in God's army, but we also can be real with Him about it. The 44,760 capable warriors...cried out to God during the battle (I Chronicles 5:20).
We can cry out to Him too. During the battle. While we are surrounded. As we are actively serving Him... They cried out to God during the battle... (I Chronicles 5:20).
And guess what?
Or better questions are, "And guess WHO?" and "Guess why?"
They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. ~I Chronicles 5:20
He answered their prayer (during the battle) not because the 44,760 capable warriors had earned it, or did enough good deeds for it, or because they had read the Bible enough, or cleaned up their lives/mouths/sins enough. God answered their prayer because they trusted in Him.
It's mind blowing, isn't it?
It's faith, isn't it?
If we will get real (with ourselves and God), and cry out to him during our battles, He will answer our prayers because we are trusting in Him. It doesn't make sense...unless we have a sense of our Heavenly Father's love for us. It's over the top.
And that would be enough: God answering their prayers (and ours) during our times of battle...
That is enough! But our Heavenly Father goes further. He is honored and blessed when we honor and bless Him, and trust in Him. And so God will go a step further. How exactly, we will each see individually as we cry out to Him during the battle and trust in Him, because it will bring a different plunder for each Believer in their own situation. But test him and see: even though the battle is God's, He shares the spoils with us.
So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. (21) The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. ~I Chronicles 5:20
That's a lot of plunder. But if we will trust God with our battles, He will fight them for us and bless our obedience.
Blessings,
sarah
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