This morning we had our devotion at the office and the leader shared the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20: 2-30. I felt blessed by the reading and what he shared. One thing that amazed me was the way King Jehoshaphat responded to the situation.

Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “There is a large army coming against you from Edom. They are coming from the other side of the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazazon Tamar!” (Hazazon Tamar is also called En Gedi.) Jehoshaphat became afraid, and he decided to ask the Lord what to do. He announced a time of fasting for everyone in Judah.2 Chronicles 20:2-3, ERV

What are our responses when we get bad news? How do we respond when we have a difficult situation? What are our responses when we feel afraid, worried, or depressed? Often, my response was being angry at God, why did He let bad things happen? Often my response was hiding, just wanting to run away from that situation.

But amazingly when King Jehoshaphat felt afraid, and terrified because a huge army coming to fight them, He decided to Pray, to ask God what to do. I focus on the word decided. Yes, we need to decide how we respond, yes we can decide and choose how we respond to every situation. Of course, it’s hard but it’s possible. King Jehoshaphat decided to PRAY and asked God what to do and if we read more he also obeyed what God told him.

The best response to every hard situation we face is always to decide to Pray and ask God what to do.

eunikeardita

We need to consciously decide and choose our responses. Try to not be impulsive and respond the wrong way. I know it needs a lot of practice till we can automatically decide and choose the right response. But that’s okay, it is all a process.

Feeling amazed at how King Jehoshaphat responded to that situation, I became curious about what kind of a man he was till he could have such of response in that urgent and difficult situation.

then I found out in 2 Chronicles 17:6 said about King Jehoshaphat, His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord;
He is a person who really devoted his heart to the ways of the Lord. He always wanted to live according to God’s word. That’s why how he responded, and how he decided it also focused on knowing what God wanted him to do. Not just know what God wanted, He obeyed because He wanted to do what God wanted.

I want also to live like this. I want to devote my heart to the ways of the Lord.
God, please help me to always respond to everything according to what You want. Help me to always decide to pray and ask You what to do. Amen!

read also: comparison is the thief of Joy