“But Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. And when Judah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.”
II Chronicles 13:13-15 NKJVThe battle belongs to the Lord
In the conduct of everyday life, enemies abound. Some of these are people that we may find ourselves at odds with, others might be the inevitable consequences of our daily interactions. Yet other enemies come in the form of uncontrollable situations that have their own causes.
In fog of the warfare, we can feel as though we are surrounded, with opposition in front and ambush behind. In our flesh it is reasonable to feel completely overwhelmed, expecting defeat.
I read of Abijah and Judah facing off against Jeroboam and Israel. The splintered children had fallen away, and followed after other Gods, but Judah was faithful.
In the heat of that battle, Jeroboam’s forces had snuck in behind their enemy. This is a great type and shadow of what the evil one does in the lives of believers, as he sends temptation and snares where we are not looking, where we have not set a guard.
When Judah saw the ambush, they did not panic, but cried out to God. That is what we must do when the battle lines are shifting, and ambush is near. In Christ we have the security of God who is our help, our support, who guards our flanks, and covers us. In the time of trouble before us, we must look up, for that is where our help comes from.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”
Psalms 121:1-8 NKJVI know the life of one surrounded, of one facing strong enemies before, and ambush behind. I cry out daily, and He has always given me the victory.
Brothers and sisters, if you are living in this world, you have experiencing the attack of an enemy. It may be people, circumstances, or illness, or possibly all of the above. Know this: your greatest adversary is no match for our God.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31 NKJVJesus took on our greatest enemies, sin and death, and both have been defeated. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome the enemy of our own flesh, as we call out to God for victory.
The goal of the enemy is to separate us from the love of God, denying us fellowship, joy, and victory. Rest assured, my people, there is nothing that can break the bond we have with the Lord.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NKJVBecause of Jesus, I know that I can go forth with confidence and assurance, knowing that whatever enemy I may face, is no match for my God. Even as I take the Gospel into a hostile world, I know that I have the truth. I persist by the power of God in bringing the message, whether it is received heartily or not.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
I John 4:4-6 NKJVThough the world only hears its own, let us persist in speaking the truth in love, hoping that hearts open to the Good News of the Gospel. Let us also persist in using our greatest weapon of all: prayer, as we are embattled. Let us also study the word for examples of those who have gone before us who have relied on God.
“Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
II Chronicles 20:14-15 NKJVTHE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!
The battle belongs to the Lord
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Musings from an idle mind 
We are doubly kept by the Lord, and I am so grateful! Thank you Bernie
John 10:27-30 (ESV) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
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