(Graphic artwork by McKenzi Matsick)

Know And Take Your Position

By Zelda Dominguez

Five-year-olds playing T-ball look cute in their uniforms, but when it comes to playing the game, they still don’t understand the concept. The batter hits the ball, and immediately, all the players on the opposing team run after the ball, no matter what their positions are. We laugh, but in sports, it is vital to know your position and play it. With our theme, Back To Basics, the word position stood out as I read a portion of scripture.

In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah was alerted that a vast army was coming against him.

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to fast. He prayed, “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon one man .He said, This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you.

Coming out of a year like no other, and entering into a new one with so many uncertainties, we can learn so much from Jehoshaphat. I am reminded to take my place in whose I am. In other words, my position in Christ.

Are you feeling overwhelmed or angry? Do you feel like things are coming at you from all sides? Are you fearful, anxious, or feel like just giving up?

For every believer who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we can be victorious as we elevate our thinking to who we are in Christ and take that view.

This godly king humbled himself and prayed. He was a leader, and this was not good politics, but he wasn’t worried about what anyone thought.  He could have trusted in his army or own will (as he had done before) Now, this nobleman knew who he could rely on for help and recognized they were powerless.

He knew God, addressed him rightly, and used God’s Word to remind himself of what God’s done.

Jehoshaphat could have totally ran, gave up, and freaked out…but he didn’t. In many ways we, with all we are experiencing, do! Being a believer doesn’t exempt us from trials. The Lord tells him to march out where the enemy would be in the wilderness.  But he wouldn’t have to fight because He would be with him. We, too, don’t have to fear because He is our God; He is with us and fights for us.

When the Spirit of the Lord answered,  I love when he says, take your positions; then stand still. Positon in other versions takes on a different wording: take your place, set yourself, stand with confidence, or stand strong in your place. If you leave the fight, if you leave your position, you make the rest of the people vulnerable and you won’t see His victory.

Now think about it, three times his own army is coming against him. Is something major coming against you?  I react many times out of emotion. Imagine: Jehoshaphat is told march out but stand still? I challenge you, like I have been recently, to take the steps of this king and seek the Lord expectantly, knowing in Him we fight not for our victory, but from His victory!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

– 1Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

This ruler worshiped the Lord as he heard from God and led his people to do the same. Then early the next day he said, believe in the Lord your God and you will be able to stand firm. We, too, must have faith and believe and obey God at His  word.

At that very moment as they sang praises the Lord caused the opposing armies to fight among themselves. As the king and his army arrived at their lookout point, all they saw was the dead enemy as far as they could see. The Lord had been faithful to give them victory.

There is another king that was victorious! Through his death on the cross, King Jesus also defeated his enemy Satan, sin, and death. Everyone who believes in him —through faith, you belong to Him. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God