Tammy On Tuesday – A Big Ol’ Chunk of Adventure

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In the past week or so, I have talked with several friends about some huge life decisions they are making.  As I talked with each of them, I was able to relate since just 7 months ago I also made a huge life and ministry change.

After spending the past 10 years on the road,  www.callinglevi.com, settling down and getting into a new routine has been a process.  Life in church planting has been full of daily excitement and challenges.  I’ve often experienced extreme emotional highs and lows related to the circumstances around me.  It’s sometimes flat exhausting.  And at other times, exhilarating.  Some times I just want to find sure footing.  Some control.  What it all comes down to is my inner struggle to give up “assumed control” and daily let God have His way.  As with any new “life change”, I guess I’m still getting used to my surroundings.  I find myself asking God…”Is this what You had in mind?  Am I way off here?”

So for those of you who have bitten of a big ol’ chunk of adventure from God, maybe you need a word of encouragement today.  God led me to a passage of scripture this week that as encouraged me to my core. He has reminded me, yes, I will face battles.  Some may seem completely unsurpassable. I may feel completely out of my element but that’s okay.  He is with me.

The encouragement came from the story of King Jehosaphat.  He was facing a battle that, theoretically, he could not win.  It seemed he and his people faced certain destruction.  But fear drove King Jehosaphat to God in prayer.  And God answered him through a prophet named Jahaziel.

Here’s Jehosaphat’s story…
2 Chronicles 20:14-30

14 the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.
15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! 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. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.
20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”
21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:
“Give thanks to the Lord;
his faithful love endures forever!”
22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.
25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,* and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,* which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.
27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. 28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.
29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. 30 So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

I repeated the last line to myself and added my name, “So Tammy was at peace, for her God had given her rest on every side!”

Maybe you feel you are facing certain defeat.  Maybe there is a need in an area of your life that seems deeply personal.  In fact, no one may even know about this need or struggle but you and God alone.  Maybe you are gripped with fear at taking the step of obedience that God is asking of you.

I have chosen to follow King Jehosaphat’s example.

• Don’t be afraid.  (Confess your fear to God and ask Him to take it from you.)
• Believe in Him.  (Believe in His ability and desire to meet your every need.)
• Give thanks to the Lord.  (Thank Him for what He has promised He will do.)  Notice, Jehosaphat gave thanks to the Lord BEFORE the victory was won.  Begin to thank God right away!

Perhaps this blog post has prompted you to go before the Lord with what is burdening you.

Be encouraged.  If you have surrendered it to Him you can be confident He is at work.

Now it’s your turn.  Put your name in the blank.   “So ____________was at peace, for God had given him/her rest on every side.”

My prayer is that God will give you rest on “every side”