Send the Worshipers Ahead
The Boldly Seeking team is coming off of a beautiful, inspiring, tiring, and humbling weekend at the Called Conference! It was absolutely incredible (more to share about that in later team reflections) and one of the things that stood out to me was the worship at the conference. The weekend was graciously hosted at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. The name of the Lord was lifted high as hundreds of women’s voices sang in praise. During the worship, one of the hosts/emcees came up to the stage to share a vision about the weekend.
It was based off of 2 Chronicles 20:20. This Old Testament story is about Judah in danger of being attacked. When the tribe heard about the threat, they fasted and came together to seek the Lord. This made me think of all the times where I feel my back against a wall and try to fight on my own. Come together with other believers when you feel an attack of the enemy. Do not try to take it on your own! Seek after the Lord together and do not rely on your own stubborn strength.
At this time, Judah was being led by a man named Jehoshaphat. Jehosoaphat was a good leader of Judah and often was regarded as someone who relied on faith in crisis. He honored God and spoke to the people about the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt. During an assembly, another man named Jahaziel heard from the Lord and told Jehoshaphat,
‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” Now this leader of Judah was no stranger to battles or making difficult decisions. He led with faith! In 2 Chronicles 20:21, "Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing and to praise [the Lord] for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army.” As they began to worship and give thanks to the Lord, He sent ambushes against the enemies and they were defeated.
The worshipers were sent ahead of the armies and God defeated their enemies for them–every single one. Jehoshaphat and his men went to the overlook that oversaw the enemy army and realized that all of them were already dead! So the men went to carry off all their plunder but there was so much of it that it took three days to carry it all back. On the fourth day, Judah assembled together and praised the Lord. The emcee’s vision for the weekend was about worshiping so loudly before the battle ahead that God would take out the enemy for us. Let’s praise the one who can destroy the threat. Let’s use a crisis as a way to sing louder, praise more humbly, and worship whole-heatedly. Scare the enemy with how faithful your praise can be in your own life. The Lord has given you cause to rejoice over hard times.
When you do feel the heat of battle and the anger or grief or fear rises up in you instead of praise, put on a playlist of worship songs. I looked up a few that you could add to a worship playlist:
You’ve Already Won by Shane and Shane is literally a song about God fighting battles for you.
Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham is about fighting on your knees in full reverence of God.
Fighting for Us by Hillsong Worship is a slower song about having faith and watching God move.
Surrounded (Fight My Battles) by Michael W. Smith says that it may look like you’re surrounded by your circumstance, but surround yourself in the Lord.
See A Victory by Elevation Worship reminds us that our responsibility is faith and God’s responsibility is the outcome.
I hope you find some encouragement in the midst of the battle. Whatever enemy you are facing, know that you should not do it alone and you should bring it to God. I love that Rebecca already has the phrase “This is how I fight my battles” written on her Bible! When there is a struggle, heartache, or too much going on, Rebecca is one who texts the group chat (gathering her people) and we come together to pray. Sometimes, we as Christians, try to fight whatever we are facing on our own because we are embarrassed or afraid of judgement. That is a very sure way to fail. It is going to be hard, but know that God has the outcome— He’s already won!
