Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’” Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.” 2nd Chronicles 20:14-25 NIV

THE PUSH TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

In this story, we see the king of Israel, King Jehoshephat and his people, entering into a situation of being pursued by fierce armies that have surrounded them. The battle was inevitable! The completion of time was now at hand! The direction and the future of a nation was now in the balance! Trust in their own strength and suffer defeat, or trust God to fight the battle for them by thanking and praising Him in advance for the successful push to the next level!

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 NLT

FOCUS

This is the time to choose how we should focus. The push to the next level will have resistance. The urge to fight resistance with more resistance is a very real and common decision, yet the Lord is calling us to rest in Him and to praise him in advance for the victory. Speak with faith to your mountain how great your God is instead of speaking with anxiety to God how great your mountain is! The Lord is great and mighty in battle! He is well able and eagerly awaiting to move on your behalf!

WATCH WHAT I WILL DO!

I hear the Lord today saying, “Your breakthrough is here! Lay down the temptation to strive in your own strength against that which is waring against you! Enter into My rest by surrendering to Me and watch what I will do!”

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV

“The magnitude of the breakthrough and increase that I am bringing you into is unlike anything that you have previously experienced! This is why the warfare has been more intense! You are about to plunder the house of the strongman! Lift your eyes and stay above it! Resist the urge to speak words that will bring you into alignment with the enemies plans and schemes! Rather, speak My words and align your faith in Me for I am the Lord your God, the one from whom your help comes from!”

“A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

“Release your fear and the urge to try to provide for yourself, for I am your good Shepherd and you will lack no good thing (Psalm 23:1). I am the friend who will stick closer to you than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Precious one! I will not fail you, nor will I relax My grip on you! You are highly protected and highly favored by Me! I am bringing you out of a tight and restricted space into a wide open place of freedom. Rejoice in Me for your season is rapidly shifting!”, says the Lord of Hosts.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”” Psalm 91:1-2 NIV