What actions can we take when "alarmed" by current global situations? Facing Global Alarms—Jehoshaphat Shows the Way “Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3) What We Learn: When the king heard threatening news, he responded with deliberate, God–centered actions rather than panic. The same pattern steadies us today. Action Step 1: Seek the LORD Immediately • Turn first to the Father, not to headlines, analysts, or social media. • Psalm 34:4: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” • Philippians 4:6-7 promises peace “surpassing all understanding” when we pray instead of worry. Action Step 2: Set Your Face—Choose a Fixed Focus • “Set his face” implies a settled, un-distracted determination. • Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast mind, because he trusts in You.” • Practically: schedule specific daily time in Scripture; limit news intake to avoid mental drift. Action Step 3: Fast to Underscore Dependence • Jehoshaphat “proclaimed a fast.” Fasting reminds the body that God, not food—or geopolitics—sustains life. • Joel 2:12 calls us to return to the LORD “with fasting and weeping and mourning.” • Even a one-meal fast, coupled with prayer, recalibrates priorities. Action Step 4: Gather with God’s People • The king involved “all Judah.” Shared fear became united petition. • Hebrews 10:24-25 urges assembling so we “encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” • Join or start a focused prayer group for global concerns. Action Step 5: Rehearse God’s Sovereignty Aloud • Read 2 Chronicles 20:6-9; Jehoshaphat’s prayer recounts God’s power, past deliverance, and covenant promises. • Speaking truth out loud silences speculative “what-ifs.” • Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Action Step 6: Obey Any Specific Direction • In verse 15 the prophet says, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” Sometimes He directs practical steps; other times He says, “Stand firm” (v. 17). • James 1:22 reminds us to be doers, not hearers only. Action Step 7: Praise in Advance • Before the victory, singers led the army (v. 21). Gratitude anticipates God’s intervention. • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always…give thanks in every circumstance.” Living It Out Today • Schedule a daily “seek the LORD” slot—Scripture reading, prayer, and, once a week, fasting. • Replace late-night doom-scrolling with a Psalm read aloud. • Text a friend: “Let’s pray 2 Chronicles 20 over world events tonight.” • Keep a journal titled “God’s Past Faithfulness,” adding fresh entries whenever He answers. Following Jehoshaphat’s pattern turns alarm into anchored confidence, because the God who ruled nations then rules them now. |
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