“Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. As they were starting out, Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: “People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in the LORD your God, and you will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed.” – 2 Chronicles 20:20, Good News Bible

In hostile environment safety training, they told us that one of the secrets to surviving in hostile environments is to stand your ground. When an adversary or wild animal threatens to attack you, resist the temptation to run.

Just stand in one place and put both your hands where they can be seen. Many of those who become victims in hostile environments are those that tried to run when they were under attack.

When you try to flee, it means you’re scared or guilty. When you stand firm, the message you communicate is that you have no reason to be afraid.

Our meditation today comes from a portion of scripture where the people of God had been besieged.

Great fear came upon everyone – from the king’s palace to the slums. Verse 14 says; “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel.”  I really liked the word ‘then.’

In the midst of the confusion and despair, “then the Spirit came upon Jahaziel” – a Hebrew name that means ‘watched over by Jehovah.’

The message from the Spirit of the Lord was timely and poignant: “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 the Lord’s.”

God’s response to whatever situation we might find ourselves in is; “This is what the Lord says to you!”

However dire the circumstances might look, the question to ask yourself is: “What is the Lord saying to me in this situation?”

In the final analysis, that is all that matters. It doesn’t matter what the doctor is saying. What matters is the report of the Lord, and mark this; sometimes what the Lord is saying might come through a person you least expect.

If you have heard what the Lord is saying to your situation, you’re sorted!

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

EPHESIANS 6:13

For every battle, every General requires a strategy to defeat the enemy. That is what God gave King Jehoshaphat – He gave them a clear strategy of ‘when,’ ‘where’ ‘what,’ ‘who’ and ‘how’ to go about the battle.

“Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you” said the Spirit of the Lord. 

On hearing that, great calm came upon the king and all the people and they simply started worshiping the Lord.

“Put your trust in the Lord and you will stand your ground; believe what His prophets tell you and you will succeed,” he told his people.

Like David said; “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mountain Zion, that cannot be moved. (Psalm 125:1)

In Ephesians 6:13, the apostle Paul told the Church; “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

To “stand your ground” means to maintain one’s position or beliefs firmly, especially in the face of opposition or difficulty.

It implies refusing to retreat or compromise in the face of challenges or threats.

It conveys the idea of determination, resilience, and a willingness to defend one’s principles or rights, regardless of external pressures or criticism.

Whatever situation you’re going through right now, believe His Word, take up your position as a child of Jehovah God and stand firm without fear.

We’re more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Say Amen!