If you're like most of America, the local forecast doesn't look too good. I don't mean the weather, I mean the economic future. After only after 14 days in office the radio announced that President Obama was coming to grips with the enormity of the job before him. Do you ever get sense that people may not be able to figure this one out? I think life happens like that a lot more than we realize.

It seems like it shouldn't happen to those of us who are close to Jesus, but we aren't immune from the effects of the fall on the hearts and minds of those making finance, political or most other decisions in this world.  Economies rise and fall. Good politicians make horrible decisions that further their careers and affect us all. What do we do when we are in the midst of this kind of unraveling around us?  We stand. That’s it. We stand. Let me explain.

In 2 chronicles 22, when King Jehoshaphat heard that he was about to be attacked, he found himself out numbered on every side, by armies far larger than his. He was done and he knew it. He knew he couldn’t win in a physical contest, so he fought in the spiritual realm instead. When met by overwhelming odds Jehoshaphat seeks the Lord for help, and calls for all the people to fast and pray. This is the story of a King who honored God with His life and in turn, God honored Jehoshaphat with deliverance.  What did he do that was so great that God would deliver him and his people from the overwhelming armies? He called the people to recognize that nothing was impossible for God, to stand in faith and worship the one who changes events that seems impossible to change.  They went out in faith against overwhelming odds, they went with their women and children, and the praise team led the way. Now that will make you think twice before joining the worship band! As they went they proclaimed the praise of the One who had promised to be with them and deliver them.

His promise is no different for us today. He will deliver us, provide for us, and stand between us and the enemy that would destroy us. But notice when God began to move for the army of Judah; 2 Chron. 20:22 says “At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.” And eventually the invading armies completely wiped each other out. Jehoshaphat and His army of warriors, women & children and the worship team only had to raise their hands in praise to the God who is mighty to save. They fought in the spirtual realm.

What a way to win a battle. Do nothing? On the contrary, they stood and God moved. We have to keep in mind that when we fight by God’s means it calls for us to move in the spiritual realm, and not the physical realm. That means we seek His face, trust His word, and then respond with faith and obedience to what His Spirit speaks into our hearts in troubling times. You may think, “Now that’s overly simplistic.”  I think this bothers us because it doesn’t give us much to do and we love doing stuff. But answer me this, have you ever been involved in praying for something and it happened? You really didn’t do much other than act in faith through prayer. That’s moving in the spiritual realm to see results in the physical realm. And when we respond in faith by moving in the spiritual realm, it pleases God immensely.

Could be we try too hard to make the “simplistic things” difficult. God is calling all of us to an ever increasing measure of faith in these days ahead. Let’s be simplistic and trust that God will do His part, as he promises, when we live in simple faith believing Him at His word. After all, it was by His word that He spoke everything this is into existence. That's a pretty powerful word. I think we can trust that.

Troubling days? Stand in obedience and worship of the One who is worthy.