“...Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s” 2 Chronicles 20:15.

In the regular army the higher you go up the chain-of-command, the less likely you are to find people who fight. 

The logic is simple. It’s much easier to oversee the execution of a battle plan if you’re not on the front lines facing the brunt of the opposition.

But in God’s army the opposite is true. The one who is ultimately in command is the same one who places himself squarely on the front lines. When you’re in God’s army, He leads the charge and you follow, not the other way around.

In the passage above, the nation of Judah is about to come under siege by an alliance of three nations: Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir. The people of Judah know that they have no way of defeating this powerful axis on their own. The fate of their country and their very lives is in grave danger.

Thankfully, through the leadership of their King, Jehoshaphat, Judah turns to the Lord and appeals for his protection. “Our eyes are on you,” says Jehoshaphat. God hears Jehoshaphat’s prayer and responds through a prophet named Jahaziel, who reminds the assembly that “the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

We often fall into the trap of thinking that our battles are our own. Is work stressing you out? Have things been unsettling at home? Is there someone in your social circle who is suddenly gossiping about you?

“Our eyes are on you… (2:12) …The Battle is not yours, but God’s” (2:15)

One of God’s greatest gifts is His willingness to fight for His people. Instead of fighting with our own strength, intellect, or ability, every battle we face presents us with the opportunity to put our eyes squarely on the Lord, and remember that the battle is His.

The key is living with our eyes wide open, and being constantly aware of our desperate need to seek the Lord before making a move. When we do and it comes time to execute the heavenly battle plan, we’ll know that the Lord goes before us and is with us leading the charge and securing a victory for His Kingdom.

Are there battles currently taking place in your life that you’re fighting with your own strength? It may be time to take a step back, seek the Lord, and wait for his direction before making your next move.