Pick Your Battles

I remember being advised this as a young parent. I wasn’t sure quite what this meant until my kids became teenagers. During the adolescent years when kids are being transformed into adults there are lots of variables for them. They don’t think wisely in general because they are not wise yet – duh. They are growing into adult-hood with the safety net of a family structure to help them. I believe it’s a mistake of a parent to fight over every mistake, infraction, dumb decision, etc. that a kid makes. I do think that there are battles that I simply had to fight – like lying. I had to not only defend my position; I had to destroy their position with truth – if they were defending their choice to lie.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah learned that a vast armies from two different countries were coming to invade and take over Judah. The first thing he did was inquire of the Lord. He called a huge meeting just to seek the Lord together. After praying before the whole assembly, this young prophet had the spirit of the Lord all over him stood up to speak to the king and all the people. Check this out…

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! 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. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17 NIV)

The young prophet spoke truth, because the Lord went ahead of them and both armies were defeated and when Judah showed up they simply took the spoils of war from the armies who were destroyed before them.

I was especially moved by the line that the “battle is not your, but God’s”. I needed to be reminded of that today. There are times when the situation is hard to navigate and I need lots of help. The Lord is there to give wisdom and discernment as I seek to navigate through out my day and throughout my life, for that matter. I would be wise to seek the Lord’s wisdom and direction for my everyday decisions.

He will take on my battles.

He will give me wisdom and direction when I ask.

He will be present no matter what I face.

It is my role to surrender the battle or the struggle to Him and let Him lead me through.

I’m going to relax and let the Lord lead me through any struggle or storm that I face realizing that the battles are not mine – they are His and He’s got this!

Pressing On!

Dwayne