{"id":21604,"date":"2022-08-13T00:01:48","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T07:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/?p=21604"},"modified":"2022-08-09T11:43:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T18:43:55","slug":"when-the-odds-are-against-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/when-the-odds-are-against-you\/","title":{"rendered":"When The Odds Are Against You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>2 Chronicles 20 : 5-12\u00a0 <\/span>NKJV<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(5)\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen Jehosaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Lord, before the new court,<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(6)\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>and said: \u2018O Lord God of our fathers, are<\/i> You not God in heaven, and do You not <\/i>rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not<\/i> power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(7)\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Are <\/i>You not our God, who<\/i> drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(8)\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying,<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(9)\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>If disaster comes upon us\u2014sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine\u2014we will stand before this temple and inYour presence (for Your name is<\/i> in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.\u2019<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(10)\u00a0 <\/span>And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir\u2014whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them\u2014<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(11)\u00a0 <\/span>here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(12)\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>O our God, will You not judge them?\u00a0 <\/span>For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are<\/i> upon You.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe odds were certainly against Jehosaphat and his men.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Surrounding them were the hordes of three armies\u2014vastly outnumbering the Israelites.\u00a0 <\/span>Jehosaphat\u2019s response provides all of us whose backs are against the proverbial wall with a godly game plan:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

First, Jehosaphat acknowledged God\u2019s unequaled power:<\/b> \u201cPower and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>(2 Chron. 20 : 6\u00a0 <\/span>NASB).\u00a0 <\/span>His mercy is abundant.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>Whatever your circumstances, God is greater.\u00a0 <\/span>His power is sufficient.\u00a0 <\/span>His grace is adequate. \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Second, Jehosaphat admitted his helplessness: <\/b>\u201cWe are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>(2 Chron. 20 : 12 NASB)\u00a0 <\/span>Your strength is limited.\u00a0 <\/span>God\u2019s might is unsurpassed.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Third, Jehosaphat focused on God\u2019s presence: <\/b>\u201cOur eyes are on Thee\u201d (2 Chron. 20 : 12 NASB).\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t dwell on your problem.\u00a0 <\/span>Concentrate on God\u2019s active presence and participation in the midst of your difficulty.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The battle is His to win as you daily trust Him.\u00a0 <\/span>He will fight for you if you let Him.\u00a0 <\/span>He has yet to lose.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Heavenly Father, power and might are in Your hand.\u00a0 <\/span>No one can stand against You.\u00a0 <\/span>I am powerless in the face of my circumstances, but my eyes are on You.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Charles Stanley<\/b><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>On Holy Ground<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I do not know of anyone who is mature in his own Christian walk who has not, at some point in their lives, come right up against a solid brick wall,…a huge obstacle,…an unruly and unrighteous rogue or group who simply brings all of your forward momentum to a complete halt.\u00a0 <\/span>Your goals are being blocked and your movement or forward motion comes to a total standstill.\u00a0 <\/span>It is a terrible thing to experience.\u00a0 <\/span>You find yourself boxed-in.\u00a0 <\/span>You are unable to clear, resolve or remove this road block.\u00a0 <\/span>The negative emotions of fear and\/or anger boldly rise up inside of you.\u00a0 <\/span>Something serious and something of good resolution has to be done immediately.\u00a0 <\/span>Otherwise, your efforts will be lost and the opportunity to achieve your final planned results will also be lost.\u00a0 <\/span>You will not win a victory and you may lose everything you have invested up to the point of being stopped.\u00a0 <\/span>You are your own<\/b> leader.\u00a0 <\/span>The solution to the matter lies squarely on your own shoulders.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>You must\u00a0<\/b><\/span>perform.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>The only question left unanswered is: \u00a0 <\/span>Are you prepared and are you ready to perform?<\/span><\/p>\n

The big mistake most believers make is that whenever they are faced with an overwhelming obstacle, they sadly stop performing,…they stop doing the work they were doing to create momentum and grow.\u00a0 <\/span>You see friends, the fact is that \u201cAction\u201d<\/b> is the only thing that ever cures fear.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>If you want to overcome your fears, you must be willing to do the very thing that frightens you.\u00a0 <\/span>In other words, when you stop being frozen in place or paralyzed by whatever it is that frightens you, you will then be able to start growing again.\u00a0 <\/span>You are the one who is in total control of your own thoughts and actions. \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>When you then make the correct decision to move ahead and begin growing again by doing the very things that scared you, you will soon realize that the fear you allowed to stop your performance, was really no big deal,…was really nothing to be afraid of,…was more imagined than actual.\u00a0 <\/span>That is exactly how God designed you at conception.\u00a0 <\/span>You are not to be afraid.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>You are not to be fearful.\u00a0 <\/span>Rather, you are to be a power filled performer.\u00a0<\/span><\/b> He told you so in His Word.\u00a0 <\/span>In the Book of\u00a0 <\/span>2 Timothy, Chapter 1, verse 7\u00a0 <\/span>NKJV\u00a0 <\/span>He says:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(7) \u201cFor God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and of a sound mind.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

You must understand that faith and fear cannot co-exist.\u00a0 <\/span>Faith will drive out fear every time….no exceptions!\u00a0 <\/span>Because of this fact, it can not be the truth to call yourself a faith filled Christian believer while at the same time say the you are full of fear and greatly afraid. You can be one or the other, but not both simultaneously.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

When ever you find yourself doing, or about to do, something really great for God, it is almost 100 percent certain that Satan,…the Evil One,…in the form of misery,…problems,…trouble,…or suffering will quickly show up on the scene and interfere with your efforts.\u00a0 <\/span>Whenever such things happen, stand strong, be bold and hold your ground.\u00a0 <\/span>Keep working, keep moving ahead.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

If your situation is such that you become fully aware that you personally cannot handle or resolve it, then quickly recognize it and take it to the Great\u00a0 <\/span>Father God, the Holy Creator of the Universe.\u00a0 <\/span>He can always handle anything that comes your way and is beyond your own capabilities. \u00a0 <\/span>Never forget,…God made it all.\u00a0 <\/span>And all means all,…that is all, all means.\u00a0 <\/span>If God made it, then God can fix it.\u00a0 <\/span>He is the manufacturer.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

All you need do is what Jehosaphat did.\u00a0 <\/span>He looked to God for help and asked to be assisted after he first trusted God for the solution. Since Almighty God is totally sovereign, He is always bigger and greater than any problems that will ever confront you. Therefore He can always solve or help you solve whatever comes against you. \u00a0 <\/span>All you need to do is to totally trust Him to fight the fight for you,… and take the battle on to victory for you…..Oh, and then get out of His way.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

When problems bigger than you arise, when all the odds are stacked against you, do as Jehosaphat did:<\/span><\/p>\n

(1)\u00a0 <\/span>Acknowledge God\u2019s unequaled power.\u00a0<\/span><\/b> God is greater.\u00a0 <\/span>His power is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>sufficient.\u00a0 <\/span>His grace is adequate.\u00a0 <\/span>His mercy is abundant.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(2)\u00a0 <\/span>Admit your helplessness.\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>Your own strength is limited.\u00a0 <\/span>God\u2019s might<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is unsurpassed.<\/span><\/p>\n

(3)\u00a0 <\/span>Focus on God\u2019s presence.\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>Don\u2019t dwell on your problem.\u00a0 <\/span>Concentrate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on God\u2019s active presence and participation in the midst of your<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>difficulty.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Remember,…The battle is His<\/b> to win.\u00a0 <\/span>He will fight for you if you let Him.\u00a0 <\/span>Your part is just to trust Him daily and be obedient to His leading.\u00a0 <\/span>He will fight for you if you will simply get out of His way and let him fight the battles.\u00a0 <\/span>He never loses.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Greatest Blessings to All of You…………….<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2 Chronicles 20 : 5-12\u00a0 NKJV (5)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cThen Jehosaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Lord, before the new court, (6)\u00a0 \u00a0 and said: \u2018O Lord God of our fathers, are You not … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spiritual-believers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21604"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21617,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21604\/revisions\/21617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}