…we have no might…neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. – 2 Chronicles 20:12, KJV

When King Jehoshaphat was told that a great multitude of Moabites and Ammonites was on its way to destroy Judah, he pleaded with God to save his people. After Jehoshaphat prayed, an amazing thing happened in 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 (Amplified Bible):

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered;

23 For [suspecting betrayal] the men of Ammon and Moab rose against those of Mount Seir, utterly destroying them. And when they had made an end of the men of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

God delivered Judah out of the enemy’s hands by having them destroy themselves, and He did so in direct response to Jehoshaphat’s supplication.

What can we learn from Jehoshaphat the prayer warrior? When praying to God:

1) Be serious about what you pray for: Jehoshaphat was serious enough about asking God for help that he ordered the nation to fast in preparation for the ask. (2 Chronicles 20:3) Although we can be serious about our supplications without fasting, fasting is a fantastic way to focus our minds on the hard work of prayer. Regardless of whether or not you fast in order to ask, know that a flippant request will receive a flippant response. Don’t pray half-heartedly; if you do, you’re wasting your time and God’s.

2) Get others involved: Jehoshaphat gathered people from all the cities of Judah at God’s house before praying. He wanted God to hear not just from him, but from the entire nation. (2 Chronicles 20:4) There is power in a multitude of praying saints, and we ought not hesitate to ask others to pray along with us for the things we desire.

3) Acknowledge God’s power and your lack thereof: Jehoshaphat was a king with an army at his command, but he realized that he was powerless to conquer the foe. He knew, however, that the King of kings can conquer any foe, and he humbled himself to ask God to do the work that he could not. (2 Chronicles 20:12) Our pride prevents us from letting go of our own solutions to our problems, but we must absolutely give up our own solutions before God will supply His.

4) Believe that God will keep His promise, and act like it: Jehoshaphat and his people praised The Lord after receiving an immediate promise of victory in response to their prayer – even though the delivery of the promise didn’t occur until a later time. (2 Chronicles 20:18-21) If we pray and then doubt, God will hold back on delivering His promises. If we pray and then praise while we wait, God will absolutely come through for us. Remember, when we pray in faith according to God’s will, we can count His answers as our present possessions, even though we may have to wait awhile to take actual possession. (Matthew 21:22 and 1 John 5:14-15). When the Holy Spirit whispers in our minds and hearts that we’ve been heard, it’s time for us to praise Him while we wait patiently for Him to deliver. Our praise confirms our faith in God’s power to provide, and He will gladly deliver on His promises in His perfect timing.

Pray like Jehoshaphat, and God will supply you with victory after victory in your life. What a wonderful promise! What a wonderful hope!