How to Show Faith and Gratitude in Your Battle

[How to Show Faith and Gratitude in Your Battle](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Current Teaching Series [How to Get Through What You're Going Through](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [How to Show Faith and Gratitude in Your Battle](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) By Rick Warren — March 15, 2020 [Facebook](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Twitter](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Pinterest](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Email](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) “Then [the king] chose men to be singers to the LORD, to praise him because he is holy and wonderful. As they marched in front of the army, they said, ‘Thank the LORD, because his love continues forever.’” 2 Chronicles 20:21 (NCV) When Israel and their king, Jehoshaphat, were outnumbered by three enemy nations, the king chose not to worry. Instead, King Jehoshaphat led his people to worship God in various ways. Today you’ll see how they worshipped by thanking God for the victory in advance. It was almost time for the battle to begin, and Israel was on one side of the valley, their enemies on the other. You’d expect Israel’s troops to begin arming themselves and lining up to march into the fight. But here’s what happened instead: “Then [the king] chose men to be singers to the LORD, to praise him because he is holy and wonderful. As they marched in front of the army, they said, ‘Thank the LORD, because his love continues forever’” (2 Chronicles 20:21 NCV). Yes, you’re reading that correctly. Instead of choosing warriors to lead the troops into battle, the king assembled a choir. Can you imagine what those men thought as they walked, singing and unarmed, onto the battlefield? Can you imagine what their enemies thought? Despite the oddness of the strategy, the men obeyed. The choir marched in front of the army, declaring God’s unending love and thanking him in advance for delivering them. This is how God wants you to approach your battles, too. God wants you to thank him in advance for solving your problems. When you thank him afterward, you’re showing gratitude, which is important. But if you thank him in advance, you’re also showing faith. In the next verse, we see the effect of this unorthodox battle plan: “And at the moment they began to sing and to praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to begin fighting among themselves, and they destroyed each other!” (2 Chronicles 20:22 TLB) That’s my kind of battle! God’s people didn’t even have to pick up a weapon. That’s what God wants for you, too. He wants you to lay down your weapons—all the ways you’ve been trying to solve your problems on your own—and trust him as you face your enemy. Then thank him for deliverance and watch in gratitude as God fights on your behalf. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Talk About It - What battles are on the horizon of your life today? Spend a few minutes praying in faith by thanking God in advance for delivering you from your enemies. - What weapons have you been using to fight your battles that you need to lay down today? - When have you seen God fight for you in the past? Take some time to pray and express your gratitude to him. 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This interactive resource is filled with Scripture, practical guidance, prayers, pages to journal, and personal stories to help move you forward in your journey toward hope. You’ll learn and meditate on these powerful truths . . . • You are loved • You have a purpose • You belong • You have a choice • You are needed [LEARN MORE](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Includes 8 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series How to Get Through What You're Going Through. [LEARN MORE](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r [Series Summary](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Message 1: How We're Getting Through Message 2: When Your World Collapses Message 3: Getting Through Life's Losses Message 4: Struggle: When Life Makes No Sense Message 5: Surrender: The Path to Peace Message 6: Never Waste a Pain Message 7: Transformed by Trouble Message 8: Finding Treasure in Darkness by Kay Warren [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r)[Twitter](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Instagram](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) [Linkedin](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r) is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book The Purpose Driven Church was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded The PEACE Plan to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](JBWabmbNp:m:1:2618166767:2E241144CA23DA34064681FA1835BAB6:r). © 2020 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. For more information [click here](. [Unsubscribe](