2 Chronicles 13, 14; 2 Corinthians 4

Making a statement.

The details set the scene of battles:

• 400,000 vs 800,000.
• 580,000 vs 1,000,000.

Yet, these statements stand out to me over coffee–

Abijah’s shout: “So you see, God is with us. He is our leader.” 2 Chronicles 13:12 NLT.

Asa’s cry: “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone.” 2 Chronicles 14:11 NLT.

Paul’s mention of the psalmist’s words, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”

All this had me thinking, what is my statement? Do I shout, “He is my leader!” Do I cry, “I trust in You alone.”

⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT.

When I was pressed on every side, it felt crushing. And there were days I cried enough tears it felt like despair. Hunted, knocked down–I couldn’t make sense of worship lyrics, “If our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.” At times I wondered in the shadow of an adversary, maybe God wasn’t for me. In those times, I cried out louder.

I felt abandoned by things in the world in which I placed my trust. A stripping of false security–a slow death.

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:10 NLT.

The men who faced battles against armies twice their size, those men who knew God was on their side, I think of them. I think of shouts and grunts and cries, weapon upon weapon, blood and stench of death–victories, yes, but in the wake of great wreckage. Some battles are easily fought with sling and stone, and others with sweat of man and the endurance of a God who helps the powerless.

Not crushed. Not abandoned. Not destroyed. In God’s way that goes against my limited logic, where death equals life.

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. ¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT.

Father, lead me. You challenge my understanding so I can know you better. You are my provider and security.

Courtney (66books365)

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1 Kings 19, 20; Acts 13:26-52

• ¹¹ “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT.
• “The Israelite gods are gods of the hills; that is why they won. But we can beat them easily on the plains.” 1 Kings 20:23b.
• ³⁸ “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. ³⁹ Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do … ⁴⁴ The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said … ⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. Acts 13:38-39, 44-46

Sometimes I look for Him in the wrong places.

Sometimes my mind limits where He can work.

Sometimes I feel like I can’t get out from under the weight of condemnation.

Note to self: He is the one who whispers gently. He has no limits and is victorious in the hills and on the plains. Everyone who believes in Jesus is declared right with God.

And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52.

Courtney (66books365)