READING: 1 Chronicles 3-5
“He was receptive to their prayer because they trusted in him.”
1 Chronicles 5:20
Today’s reading speaks of the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and ½ of the tribe of Manasseh waging war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. We are not given much detail about the battle, but we still learn much that matters: “They received help against these enemies because they cried out to God in battle, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them” (1 Chron. 5:20). Apparently, their victory did not come because of their military expertise. Nor did it take place because of their overwhelming might and weaponry. Instead, the text tells us they won because they cried out to God in battle. The people knew they needed the help of God, so they sought Him as their source of strength.
Moreover, we learn that God “was receptive to their prayer because they trusted in him” (1 Chron. 5:20). You see, it’s possible to cry out to God in desperation, but without truly believing or trusting that He would intervene. That was not the case with these groups. They trusted God would hear their prayers, and He indeed did.
I wonder how many battles we lose either because we don’t cry out to God at all, or because we really don’t trust Him in the first place. As we’ve noted before, many of us have a tendency to fight our own battles first in our own power, and then turn to God only if we must. When we choose to fight our own battles, however, we’ve ultimately chosen defeat. That’s not a very smart move, especially when we know that the battle is actually “God’s battle”—not ours (1 Chron. 5:22).
ACTION STEPS:
- Turn to God first with all of your needs today.
- Trust Him when you pray to Him. Believe He hears and will respond.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for hearing our prayers when we trust You. Grant me faith to trust You more.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 6; Psalms 36, 39, 77-78