Win the Battle Before It Begins

The useful part

"And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, 'Lord, there is no one besides You to help, between the mighty and him who has no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. It is usually in those hours, when the shadows stretch long across the bedroom floor, that the mind begins to race.

How it works

• Nobody has the ability to see around the next street corner or predict the sudden storms that might hit by afternoon.
• You sit upright with a sudden chest tightening, flooded by an overwhelming wave of worry about unpaid bills, a strained marriage, or a child who seems to be slipping away.
• Panic feels like an uninvited guest kicking the front door open, demanding all your attention.
• We wait until the crisis arrives in full force before we finally fold our hands and cry out for rescue.
• King Asa faced a terrifying crisis long before the dust ever settled on a real battlefield.

What to take from it

Because he had already built a lifestyle of proactive prayer, his first reflex in the face of absolute terror was radical dependence on God. An enormous army marched toward Judah, outnumbering his troops by staggering proportions. Yet instead of scrambling for last-minute tactical adjustments while enemy spears flashed in the sun, Asa fell to his knees beforehand.

Details worth keeping

Most of us know this drill entirely too well. He sought the Lord and prayed before the battle lines were ever drawn. He did not wait for panic to dictate his response.