“And now it’s happened: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn’t let Israel touch them when we got here at first—we detoured around them and didn’t lay a hand on them. And now they’ve come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O dear God, won’t you take care of them? We’re helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don’t know what to do; we’re looking to you.” 2 Chronicles 20:10-12 Message Bible

This is what looking to God looks like. It’s stating the obvious (there was a real enemy set out to destroy Gods people), asking for help (won’t you take care of them?), admitting you haven’t a clue as to what to do (we’re helpless and we don’t know what to do). But here’s the most important part to remember in your current battle; we’re looking to you.

It doesn’t matter your position or title or privilege, everyone faces enemies and battles we don’t know how to deal with, but something happens when you look to Him. This was a king who saw himself surrounded by enemies he knew he couldn’t defeat without divine intervention. But he called out to God, fell on his face and waited for the answer.

The answer came through a random worshipper named Jahaziel. He gave voice to Gods message and said, “Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat—God’s word: Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war, not yours. Tomorrow you’ll go after them; see, they’re already on their way up the slopes of Ziz; you’ll meet them at the end of the ravine near the wilderness of Jeruel. You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch God’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you.” Verses 14-17.

Look at God! He not only told them what to do, but where the enemy was at and where to meet them.

Let me share a personal story that happened 2 years ago. We were sent to a cancer specialist to investigate a mass on Walts pancreas. When we arrived, he told us there was a test he needed that should have been done prior to the appointment. He made a couple of phone calls and arranged it would be done by a gastroenterologist who specialized in this procedure and we were to meet him at the hospital across the street. When we got to the car, Walt became very weak and couldn’t get in. I tried to keep him off the hot pavement, but I just wasn’t strong enough to support his weight. I couldn’t reach my phone and hold him, there was no one in the parking lot. I began to yell for help, to God and anyone in hearing distance.

In a very short time, a nurse came out and tried to help me but couldn’t. She called 911 and the ambulance came and helped get him up and took him to the hospital where we had intended to go. Come to find out, Walt had whooping cough, something that only happens to two year olds but had been reported in 3 other cases just that month.

I was soon told he was in respiratory failure and was very sick, they admitted him and in two days, the doctor advised me to put him in hospice. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and his kidneys were starting to shut down. I went home, curled up in a fetal position on my bed and cried out all night long until finally I fell asleep, exhausted.

In the morning I lay quiet before the Lord and asked what I was to do? We had been doing battle for Walts life for a whole year and I was pretty sure God wasn’t done with him yet. I heard very clear direction from the whisper of God’s Spirit, “Take your tablet up to the hospital, close the door and begin to worship.”

That’s exactly what I did. Even when doctors and nurses came and went, I let the music play and though there was no response or change in Walt, I knew I was being obedient. In the evening, one of the nurses had just got off her shift and came in, pulled up a stool and sat beside me. She said, “I’ve been listening to you all day. Tell me about your husband, how long have you been married and what is your secret?” I gave her a short synopsis and told her how much we loved serving God together, encouraging others, ministering to marriages for so many years. As she left, she told me I gave her hope for her own marriage and she was going to go home with a different attitude.

The next morning I woke up and went back up to sit in his hospital room to do the same thing but when I arrived, Walt was sitting up, looking alert and asked me where he was and what was going on. I filled him in as the doctor came in and said, “Wow, what a difference a day makes!” I said, “No, what a difference our God makes!”

We are His children and regardless of your feelings or circumstances, when you cry out, He hears you. When you are still before Him, He will give you instructions, you just have to be willing to do what He says. Don’t allow the enemy to overwhelm you with ‘what ifs’, but overwhelm him with praise and worship. You can still his accusations through your worship and the Word you utter out of your mouth.

Look to Him,

Sandy G