Able

Jehoshaphat was in trouble. Judah was facing destruction and death. A confederacy of Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites was closing in on the southern kingdom with malice on their minds. Unless God intervened, there would be death on a frightening scale. Although Jehoshaphat had acted imprudently in going to war alongside the wicked Ahab and would have died owing to the cowardice and deception of Israel’s king if God had not intervened (see 2 Chronicles 18:31), he had been a faithful king. He had “removed the high places and wooden images from Judah” and “his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 17:6). At his direction, religious reforms had been carried out throughout the land. The book of the law had been taught in cities all across the land. “The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat” (verse 10).

But now, Judah’s future was very much in jeopardy.

So Jehoshaphat prayed. Jehoshaphat said, in effect, “We know who You are. You are so powerful no one can stand before You.” Jehoshaphat expressed absolute confidence that God was able to deliver His people, even in a time when deliverance seemed humanly impossible. He said, “You have driven out the inhabitants of this land, and You gave this land to Abraham. We are only asking You to keep us in possession of what You already gave us.” When you pray, pray with the confidence of Jehoshaphat. You are praying to the one true God, the Architect of the cosmos.

You need never pray with doubt about God’s ability to answer your prayer. As Jehoshaphat believed, God is able.