Out of the Chaos
Inspiration for living outside of the chaos.
He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
2 Chronicles 20:6-9
When faced with enemies threatening his nation, Jehoshaphat prayed. His prayer is instructive for us today when we face an enemy that we cannot see and cannot fight on our own.
He began by acknowledging God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. He put God in proper perspective with the enemy at hand. Essentially, he says, “God, you are bigger than this and I acknowledge your greatness. You are the big dog in this fight.”
Thought: who is the big dog in your mind? The chaos around you? The fear and anxiety? God, the creator of the world?
Once he acknowledges God’s rightful place, he calls to mind the promises of God. At the heart of what he says is this: “God, I am here because you told us to come when we face an enemy of any kind. You said you would hear us and rescue us. I am coming to collect on that promise.”
Thought: are you collecting on the promises of God to be with you, to shelter you, to provide for your needs?
Calming Activity
We all meditate on something every day. Too often, we don’t consciously choose what that will be; thoughts come and we invite them in to stay and have tea. Meditate is to “think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time … as a method of relaxation.” Choose one of these scriptures and meditate – focus your mind – on the character of God found there.
Out of the Chaos 