How to Pray in a Crisis

Dear Friends.
This week we look at how to pray in a crisis, as we continue with our paraphrase of “40 Days of Prayer”

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read the story of how King Jehoshaphat of Judah defeated the armies of Moab and Ammon. The story begins with messengers coming to Jehoshaphat to warn him a vast army was marching on Judah, and it was about two days away. How Jehoshaphat responded offers us a lesson in crisis management. When you find yourself in a crisis, take the steps Jehoshaphat took.

1. Turn to God for Help
◦ Don’t let a crisis intimidate you; let it motivate you to pray. Ask God for
guidance, and ask others to pray with you.

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance.
He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the
towns of Judah came to Jerusalem
to seek the LORD’s help. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (NIV)

◦ Remember how big God is. The bigger your God is, the smaller the crisis
appears. Problems shrink as God expands.

Jehoshaphat prayed, “LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God
who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power
and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.”
2 Chronicles 20:6

◦ Remember the times when God said, “Yes” to your prayers.

Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your
people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your
friend? 2 Chronicles 20:7

◦ Remember what God has promised. Jehoshaphat remembered God’s
promises to the Israelites; we can trust the promises we find in
God’s Word.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5b

“According to your faith let it be done to you.” Matthew 9:29

◦ Appeal to God’s character. Depend on God’s faithfulness, his righteousness, his lovingkindness, his mercy, and his justice.

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

2. Admit your own inadequacy. To a greater or lesser degree, we all need to feel we are in control. But in a crisis, we, like Jehoshaphat, need to relinquish control of the situation to God.

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, …” 2 Chronicles 20:12b

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

3. Rely on God’s Resources. Shift your focus from your problem to the problem solver. Is there anything too big for God?

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 chronicles 20:12b

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 
Proverbs 3:5

4. Relax in faith. When you face a crisis, your enemies/problems become God’s problems. Trust him to do what is best for you in any given situation.

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. 2 Chronicles 20:15b

5. Thank God in Advance. Gratitude is thanking God for what he has done. Faith involves thanking God for what he will do.

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20:17b

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.” 2 Chronicles 20:21b

6. Expect God to turn your battles into blessings. When Jehoshaphat went out to meet the enemy, God caused the opposing forces to start fighting among themselves. In the end, not one of the enemy escaped, and Jehoshaphat’s army found so much plunder they couldn’t carry it all away. What blessings might God have waiting for you at the end of your crisis?

The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 20:29-30

In the book Anxious About Nothing, Max Lucado wrote, “You cannot control the circumstances, but you can always control what you think of them.”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ