King Asa was a good king, for the most part. For most of his reign (written down in 2 Chronicles, chapters 14-16) he feared the Lord and sought Him every step of the way. His story might not be as well known as King David or King Solomon, but it’s still worth taking note of… especially how he handled opposition & times where fear could have crept in!
Take a moment and read 2 Chronicles 14-15. Chances are, it will either be your first time reading it or the first time you really studied it. There are so many areas of Asa’s reign that I could focus on, but for today I will choose only two.
Reread 2 Chronicles 14:1-8. Notice that the land of Judah had a period of rest from war which lasted 10 years. During that time, King Asa was busy! He cleared out all idols and anything that wasn’t of God. He prepared the city by fortifying walls and putting up towers, gates, and bars. He also built up an army, full of brave soldiers equipped with adequate weapons. Even though their land was at peace, King Asa made sure Judah was ready for an attack.
Let me ask you a question… have you ever been in a place where you were in a time of peace, not facing fears? Did you use your time wisely, as Asa did? Use your time to prepare for an attack from your enemy. Build your defenses before that attack comes, so you can be thoroughly equipped to handle it!
How do you do that? How can you battle fear BEFORE it strikes? Start by memorizing Scripture, getting in your prayer closet & praying on the armor of God daily, and cleaning out all things that are unholy in your life.
The second thing I want to focus on is King Asa’s reaction when the attack finally comes. Reread 2 Chronicles 14:9-12. Remember that Asa had fortified his walls & built up his army… they were ready for battle, not unprepared at all! Instead of putting his faith in his great army or brave soldiers, Asa fell before God. While he knew that he did not need to fear his enemy, he also knew that they could not be defeated without God’s favor.
When Satan attacks us, we need to realize that he is a formidable opponent. He is powerful, and he is fully capable of defeating us. This realization should not bring MORE fear into our hearts, but should rather cause us to react exactly the way King Asa did!
Verse 11 is amazing…King Asa bows before the Lord and prays,
“LORD, there is no one like You to help the powerless against the mighty. [He's referring to his own army as powerless!] Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army…”
This needs to be our plan & prayer when facing fears:
Our own efforts will fail - we will fall victim to our fears. It’s only when we squash our pride & admit that we can’t do it on our own that we release the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that can overcome the impossible!
Let’s see victory like King Asa saw victory that day! Victory - through the power of and dependence on the Holy Spirit - in overcoming fear!
God bless you, & I hope God used this to minister to you today! Please share with us your stories of victory over fear!
~Jason & Heather
PS - Don’t forget to join us for our LIVE episode next week - Monday May 11 at 8 p.m. EST!
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Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear By Max Lucado Just think what you could do with your life if you completely emptied your heart of fear---and filled it with faith instead! Whether you're uneasy about layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, or flare-ups in the Middle East, anxiety can make life feel like a prison. Learn how to break free---with God's help! 224 pages, hardcover from Nelson. |
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Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear By Max Lucado Just think what you could do with your life if you completely emptied your heart of fear---and filled it with faith instead! |
