KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, May 11, 2018
Chapters: II Samuel 10, I Chronicles 19, Psalm 20
Message: Winning Battles With Jesus
Hello My Friend,
When I was in middle school I was in the main hallway along with what seemed like the entire school as we waited to get on our buses, normally they would call our bus number so we were not all leaving at the same time, but there was some kind of activity and we were all in the gym that day. Someone pushed someone and before you know it, we were all being pushed and shoved around, people falling on the floor getting trampled on. It was pretty scary to go through that, and to this day I still avoid crowds, but there are times that I cannot avoid crowds, so I have to trust that God will keep me safe, and so far so good. Praise God! None of us were prepared that day because we were not expecting it, life itself has a way of doing that to us. In this life all we can do is prepare ourselves for battle, then hand it all over to God. We may not always get the outcome we would like, but God has His reasons for what He allows and we must accept that. Sometimes it may see like we are losing a battle, but as long as we have Jesus by our side we will win the victory every time. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” – I John 5:4.
In every battle there are two sides, each side praying to their god to win the victory, but only one will win. No one wants to be in a battle, but it is unavoidable sometimes, therefore, we must be prepared, and must train ourselves to fight, and then leave the rest up to God. The king of Ammon showed kindness to David by sheltering one of his brothers when the king of Moab treacherously massacred the rest of his family. David and the king became allies, but when he died his son Hanun, listening to some bad advice did something foolish that would start a war between Israel, Ammon, and Syria.
“And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away. Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.” – I Chronicles 19:2-7.
“So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots,” Hanun knew that he was foolish in what he had done, but instead of apologizing he manages to find someone else just as foolish to help him. Most civil battles do not start over something worth fighting for, they are over pride. Now, Israel has another battle to fight, the first thing David did was pray to God.
“Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.” – Psalm 20:4-9.
“the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.” God answers every prayer, but rarely does He answer them in a way that we expect, sometimes we do get exactly what we want, sometimes they are better than what we want, and sometimes they are not at all what we want. God knows what is best and will grant our requests according to His will. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” – I John 5:14-15.
Now, in every battle we face, God sends out His very best to fight, we may not want to fight, we may even want to hide, but if God has chosen us for battle we have to trust that He knows what He is doing and let Him lead us to the victory. David sent his best men out to the battle, and Joab led the pack, he divided the men, and Hanun found out firsthand not to cross with God’s army.
“Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.” – I Chronicles 19:10-15,19.
“and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.” We are not always going to like the outcome that God gives us, while this was, in fact, a win for them, there are times when God would allow them to be defeated. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus and let Him lead us through our battles we will find that He will be with us and the enemy will flee with fear themselves. If they do not flee, we cannot surrender, nor can we live in fear, we must stand up for our rights just as much as they do. We do not have to fight them as they do, but if God wants us to fight, He will give us the strength and wisdom to do that. As long as we stick close to Jesus we will be safe, and let me tell you, God will get the vengeance for us, even if we die in the battle we still have the victory. “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:4-7.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.” – II Samuel 10:12.
Today’s Prayer: God, As much as I understand that You are with me through every battle I face that still does not mean I am ready or willing to fight. Your timing is everything and as long as I wait patiently, and trust You, You will give me what I need to not only endure, but win. I thank You for bringing me this far, to imagine what mess I would be in if You were not in my life would be frightening. I know You have more waiting for me as I patiently allow You to prepare me, strengthen me, and keep me depending on You. I ask You to give me Your power to wait on You, to not become discouraged, and to be strong even if I am the only one trusting You. I trust that You will bring me to victory, my Lord, my strength, my Redeemer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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