Take Up Your Positions
“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,…
Divine Handover
The battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 The command center buzzed with urgent activity as reports flooded in. Three enemy armies were advancing toward Jerusalem, their combined forces creating a seemingly unstoppable tide of destruction. King Jehoshaphat’s…
Your White Flag is Your War Cry
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” Goal: Help readers understand how surrender to God becomes our most powerful battle strategy. 2 Chronicles 20:12 In military history, raising a white flag meant only one…
United We Seek
“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” 2…
Why We Really Follow Jesus
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 Let’s be honest about why we follow Jesus. Some of us follow out of guilt, trying to pay back a debt we know we can never repay.…
Following Jesus in Real Life
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24 Follow me. These two simple words carried life-altering weight in Jesus’ time. A rabbi’s call…
The Cross Is Not Comfy
Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross… Matthew 16:24 During Jesus’ time, you don’t want to be wearing any cross. The cross wasn’t a religious symbol or…
When Self-Denial Isn’t Really Self-Denial
Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves …’ Matthew 16:24 I don’t think we understand what self-denial is. Self-denial has gotten a bad reputation in Christian circles (among other things). Some think…
Disciple First. Follower Second.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple …’ Matthew 16:24 In our social media age, we’ve reduced “following” to a passive spectator sport. With one click, we can follow celebrities, influencers, and thought leaders while…
Beyond Your Blueprint
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) We’re all amateur architects of our own lives. We sketch detailed…