Are we so tired?  So done!  Do we arise, look into the day ahead and sense defeat EVEN before we place shoes upon our feet?

Are we so weary?  So done!  Do we turn on the television, hear the newscasters speak of the surge or lessening of the Coronavirus cases and sense heaviness from this plague of COVID-19 EVEN before we grab our mask to step into our day?

Are we so battle-fatigued?  So done!  Do we find ourselves peering into the new day, seeing the “struggles” of the day and sense a deep-bone weariness EVEN before we pick up our car keys?

Are we so sad?  So done with this sad season!  Do we fall into our beds of rest but never fully rest because we are so heart-sad?  Do we lie awake each night or find sleep void of rest EVEN before we fall out of bed to face this new season of life?

Tiredness belongs to God.

Weariness belongs to God.

Fatigue belongs to God.

Sadness belongs to God.

Our daily battle belongs to God.

Invite Jesus into our exhaustion, into our trials, into our situations, into our struggles, into our busyness, into our hopelessness, into our pain, into our relationships, into our daily work, and into our lives.

• Invite Jesus & Ask Him to Come In & Stay.
• Jesus will come when invited.
• Jesus will stay when invited.
• Jesus will sustain & continue supplying—ALL THAT WE NEED!

Whenever We Invite Him Into Our Dwelling Places, Jesus moves into our hearts and forever takes His rightful place inside our heart.  That’s the DIFFERENCE Between Who We Are & Who God Is—His love never fails; His love never gives up; His love never runs out on you or me.  God’s love is a kind of love like no other.  God’s love is a “lifetime” love, one that walks us into eternity with Him—The image of living forevermore within the presence of Almighty Father God totally blows my mind—The image of walking in heaven beside our Savior Jesus overwhelms my whole being—The image of breathing in & breathing out the Holy Spirit of God forevermore permeates my being.

Oftentimes, we face DEFEAT, HEAVINESS, WEARINESS, UNREST, & FATIGUE as we face our daily battle, but our Father is so much LARGER than all we ever face.  When we see the approaching battle, God sees the VICTORY!  When we face the battalions, God knows the OVERCOMING!

In the Bible (the Old Testament) we read many instances where God fought the battle for the people.  We see time and again how the people ONLY needed to RELY on HIM.  One such reading is found when King Jehoshaphat faces waring nations who wished to destroy God’s people.  This king was a praying king.  This king was a believing king.  This king was a trusting king.  This king—King Jehoshaphat—prayed, believed, trusted God, & then led the people under his care to a battlefield unlike one they had never faced.  SEE WITH ME.

“Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the sone of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, thus says the LORD to you, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”

(2 Chronicles 20: 14-15)

Then he gives them instructions, what they must do—tomorrow—when they must go into the valley of the wilderness.  He tells them to dress, to step outside, to face the new day, AND THEN he shares with them the most amazing TRUTH EVEN BEFORE THEY GO!

“You need not fight in this battle;  station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.

“Do not fear or be dismayed;  tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.”

Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.

The Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”

(2 Chronicles 20: 17-19)

Did we see that?  Did we see the battle preparations?

They listened to the LORD.

They did not fear.

They faced tomorrow’s new day.

They remembered the LORD was with them.

They bowed to pray.

They fell down to their knees and prayed.

They worshipped the LORD.

They praised the LORD.

They gave greater sound to their praise to God than to their fear and dismay.

They shouted loud their praise to the King of Kings & Lord of Lords!!!

Stand right there for a moment in our minds.  See how their voices were not used to complain or to give voice to their fear, to their impending demise.  Hear their praise.  Hear their worship.  Hear their rejoicing EVEN before the battle began!

The next morning came.

They went out into the valley of the wilderness.

They listened to their king.

They trusted the LORD their God.

They placed their full trust in His Hands.

They sang songs of praise.

They saw how the LORD set ambushes against the enemy.

They saw the LORD win the battle!

“When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were [the enemies were] corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.”

(2 Chronicles 20: 24)

Where is God calling us?

We will be safe because He surrounds us.

Is He calling us out onto the water?

We will be safe because He is there.

Is He preparing us for battle?

We will be safe because He has already won the battle.

Is God leading us to unknown territories?

We will be safe because we belong to the LORD.

Wherever—Whenever—However—Whatever—GOD’S GOT THIS!

YES—GOD—HE’S GOT OUR THIS!

YES—GOD—HE’S ALREADY WON THE BATTLE!

That’s the DIFFERENCE Between Who We Are & WHO GOD IS!

The prophet Isaiah reminds us—

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.”

(Isaiah 53: 5-6)