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It’s 1944. World War II. General George Patton is commanding the Third Army. He recognizes they are fighting three enemies: the Germans, time, and the weather. Patton wrote in his journal he knew nothing else he could do to prepare for the upcoming battle except read the Bible and pray.
The weather was terrible. Rains were affecting the weapons, the aircraft, and the movement of the troops. He knew it was up to God to change that weather so they could win the campaign. So he decided to call the chaplain and said he wanted a letter sent to every soldier in the Third Army telling them to pray for God to stop the rains. That would put them in the favored position.
So the announcement was sent to every soldier. Everyone was urged to pray everywhere. They were told to pray when they were driving, pray when they were fighting, and pray when they were alone or with others. They were to pray night and day for good weather and for the oppression of the enemy to be broken.
The day after the note to pray was sent to the troops, the weather became perfect and remained so for six days. It was enough time for the Allies to give a crushing defeat to the enemy.
When conditions seem out of control, it can be the worst feeling! It isn’t so bad if something happens and we feel we can manage it, but when it’s beyond our ability to do something about it, that’s a different story.
But as a believer we can view the whole scenario a different way. We need to see ourselves as favored to win and to have victory. You, not the conditions, are in a favored position because of God.
What seems uncontrollable can be controlled by the hand of God. There are times it appears victory cannot be ours, but when we pray and believe, CONTROL IS RIPPED OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. Then we can march in victory because of God.
When the King of Judah, Abijah, was challenged by the King of Israel, Jeroboam, the events seemed out of control. The army of Jeroboam was much bigger and stronger than the army of Judah. But when Jeroboam sent hundreds of thousands of his best troops to come against Judah and they took their position, King Abijah wouldn’t back down.
He took a prominent position above them on a mount, because he wanted to make sure they could hear what he was about to say. He proceeded to give them a warning. He knew Judah was in a favored position, and the army of Israel would suffer if they came against them.
Sometimes you have to give that same speech. Believe that you are in a favored position and you are giving fair warning to the challenge that it better not keep coming against you. It is doomed to lose.
So the king of Judah reminded Israel how they had not been serving God but the people of Judah had. Therefore he said, God is on our side; He’s our leader. O Israel—don’t fight against God, the God of your ancestors. You will not win this battle. (Ref. II Chronicles 13:12 MSG.)
That’s how we should be talking. Say to what confronts us, “Can’t you see the obvious? I’m in the favored position. God is on my side, and so I’m favored to win. You will not win this.” Say that to every challenge and trial, to everything coming against you.
In spite of the size of what confronts you, it is NOT in control. It cannot control you because you have given over control of your life to God. Therefore, believe He will control it. He will cause you to win over anything and everything.
While the King of Judah was speaking, the enemy maneuvered their troops so they surrounded Judah before and behind them. But God did not desert them. Let me tell you, when the problem is before you and behind you, do you know who is in the center, right there where you are? The Lord your God. He comes into the middle of those conditions and chases them off.
When the troops of Judah gave a shout to God, He routed the enemy. That day 500,000 of the best fighters of the enemy were killed. The army was decimated. It was a tremendous defeat for them and a tremendous victory for Judah. Why did they win? It’s all summed up in II Chronicles 13:18. The army of Judah won hands down because he trusted God, the God of their ancestors.
Who is going to win? You are. You trust God so you’re going to win hands down. Believe for your victory.
Spiritual powerline to say out loud:
“I’M FAVORED TO WIN!”
Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:
Lord, right now as I pray to you, I know I am in a position of favor. I’m favored to win over what is before me and behind me, because You are here with me. So I will not back down but I stand in faith knowing I will have victory. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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