Do Not Be Afraid or Discouraged
Date: January 4, 2024
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV): "He said: 'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'"
L - Listen for God's Voice and Pray: Heavenly Father, speak to me through this verse. Please give me renewed vision, courage, and faith in the face of challenges I may face. In Jesus name, Amen.
E - Explore the History and Meaning: In the days of King Jehoshaphat, the people of Judah faced a formidable enemy that threatened to overwhelm them. Filled with fear and uncertainty, Jehoshaphat turned to the Lord in prayer, acknowledging God's sovereignty and past faithfulness. In response, a prophetic word assured him: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."
. This verse teaches us that when we encounter overwhelming situations, we can trust God's intervention. It's a call to rely on God's power and not our own.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases:
"Do not be afraid or discouraged": This phrase emphasizes the importance of trust and faith in God even when circumstances seem dire.
"The battle is not yours, but God's": This highlights that God is our ultimate source of strength and victory.
S - Summarize and Share (Personal Devotional):
This ancient story carries timeless wisdom. Just as King Jehoshaphat found himself in a situation beyond his control, so many times we encounter overwhelming challenges in our lives. These challenges might be personal, health-related, or just basic day to day life challenges. The message remains the same: when we face situations that seem insurmountable, we should not let fear and discouragement overtake us.
Today, we can draw inspiration from Jehoshaphat's faith and reliance on God. This story teaches us that our battles, though they may appear overwhelming, are not ours to fight alone. We are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty, just as Jehoshaphat did, and remember that He is the ultimate source of victory.
When we find ourselves in the midst of life's battles, we can turn to prayer and seek God's guidance. We can acknowledge His past faithfulness in our lives and trust that He will provide a way forward. In doing so, we embrace a renewed vision of faith, understanding that our challenges are opportunities for God to work on our behalf.
This story reminds us that, like Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, we can find hope and strength in God's promises and experience His deliverance in the face of overwhelming odds.
4 Bible Cross References:
Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Psalm 27:1: "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"
Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Romans 8:31: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"