CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL FOR AUGUST 9, 2022 : TOPIC – ARE YOUR EYES ON THE RIGHT PLACE?

[1] It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

[2] Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.

[3] And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

[4] And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

[5] And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

[6] And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

[7] Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

[8] And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

[9] If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

[10] And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

[11] Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

[12] O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Have you ever found yourself in a big problem that you think is unsolvable, whether by yourself or any other person; seeing yourself like a needle falling into the ocean? That was the situation Jehoshaphat and Judah found themselves. Before they could prepare, the enemies had reached En Gedi, a Judah’s territory (v. 2) Terrible! How did Jehoshaphat feel on hearing the news Feared’ (v. 3) He was alarmed! Naturally, anyone in such situation would be looking for solution from any of the following 4 ways:

1. *Self:* You turn to yourself. Preparing pity-party table. Poor me. This makes you depressed. The world teaches you to look to yourself for solution and develop I can handle it’ mind-set, but when you are disappointed, you get depressed further.

2. *Others:* People look to others for solution, particularly when they are rich. But David warned against such (Psa. 118:8-9). Disappointment can ensue.

3. *The problem itself:*. How about fixing your eyes on the problem itself and believing it will go? This will make you paranoiac. You hallucinate and see a problem that is real only to yourself. You become problem-oriented. Peter’s eyes were fixed on the storms and he began to sink (Matt. 14:30).

4. *God:* Jehoshaphat said: O our God, …we have no power against this great multitude…nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. One, they had no weapon, no power, but they had God. Do you have God? Secondly, focusing on God is what the Bible advocates from Genesis to Revelation. God asked Abraham to focus on Him and not on problem. Same to Moses, to Joshua, etc., and to you He says, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Heb. 12:2 NIV). They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed (Psa. 34:5).

1. Start praising God with the belief that you have won that battle already.

2. Pray for faith not to look to self, others, or your problems, but to the Lord in your time of trial.

3. Pray for CAC Odusona Region, our father in the Lord, the Superintendent, and its officers at the various levels, as led by the Spirit of God.

CAC GHB 821

1. My faith looks up o Thee,

Thou lamb of Calvary,

Saviour divine.

Now hear me while I pray;

Take all my guilt away;

O let me from this day

Be wholly Thine.

2. May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart,

My zeal inspire:

As Thou hast died for me,

O may my love to Thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be,

A living fire.

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day,

Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray

From Thee aside

4. When ends life’s transient dream.

When death’s cold, sullen stream

Shall o’er me roll,

Blest saviour, then in love,

Fear and distrust remove ;

O bear me safe above,

A ransom’d soul.

Amen.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:

Jeremiah 4 – 6

AUTHOR

C. A. C. Worldwide

Remain blessed