"HOW TO BE A WINNER"

An humble King Wins!

The LORD had spoken to Judah; the inhabitants of Jerusalem and king Jehoshaphat saying, "This saith the LORD to you, Be not afraid, nor dismayed because of their great numbers; for the battle is not yours, but God's."

The first thing that the LORD wanted them all to come to realize was that He has the battle taken care of and they would not need to be afraid. What would it be like in each of our lives if we all could experience this whenever something came up that we couldn't handle?

The football player that catches my attention the most is the one who drops down on one knee and points his or her hand up to God! That is exactly how Jehoshaphat reacted when he knew his victory was sure and it was his humble attitude that also influenced the attitudes of all of Judah and Jerusalem! Just think about how different it would have been for their entire nation if he had started whooping and hollering and praising himself or his nation? But think about it, isn't that what the United States of America has been doing ever since the war?

I remember when we went to fight in Iraq. Songs began to emerge about the US and how proud we were to be Americans and about our victory over there when we demolished their bases and army. Songs like "Born In the USA", "Proud to be an American" and "Bomb Iran" were written and people chanted these songs with a smile on their faces as if killing was exciting and fun. I saw the pride of our nations leaders begin to swell and they boasted in the news how no one will mess with the USA.

Think about how different that is from Jehoshaphat and his nation's attitude in this passage? Ask yourself, "Which one is right and which one isn't?" They can't both be right, because God is always the same and the Spirit of God spoke to them. Let's see how they reacted as a nation,

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.  2Chronicles 20:18-19

One of the most influential nations of all time was influenced by their King who loved and worshiped God. His attitude of thanks and praise to God shined, as the king bowed his head with his face down to the ground worshipping God. The amazing thing is that a nation of people that love God follow the leadership of a man of God with the right winning attitude!

Whooping and hollering, chest pounding, heads held high or singing songs of pride in the USA doesn't reflect the attitude of a nation that humbled themselves and prayed before offering up songs of praise to the LORD God of Israel. Does it???

 Can you see the difference in the attitudes of the leaders and citizens of our nation today and the attitude of king Jehoshaphat and the nation in this passage? Don't forget the key that makes all the difference between nations as we look back at the end of verse seventeen..."for the LORD will be with you."

In the next post we will look at the consequences of having the right winning attitude and praising the LORD. We'll see what happens in situations that look so hopeless, when it is put in God's hands.

Until then, remember to trust and praise God even when you are surrounded by impossibilities and the people, whose lives you impact, will be watching and following Your example! Psalm27:14