DAY 17: The Art of Prayer
by Ps Phil Pringle, Founder, C3 Church Global
Intention
When we trust God as our defence, He gives us astonishing victory.
Scripture
“Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”
—2 Chronicles 20:2-4
Reflection
Jehoshaphat sent worshippers to lead the army when they came against the vast and outnumbering Ammonite and Moabite armies. However, this strategy came by his seeking the Lord and calling upon the entire nation to fast and pray. People came from all around the nation to seek God together.
When Jehoshaphat was told of the impending attack of the confederation of kingdoms against his tiny Judah, he was terrified. Instead of running to other nations for help or trying to buy off the enemy, Jehoshaphat decided that his defence would be God. So he put his trust in God, and sought Him for help. The result was an astonishing victory.
The people sought God when a prophet told them to trust in the Lord and not in their army. Jehoshaphat declared they should believe the prophet, and he ordered the singers and worshippers to go out first into battle. (Jehoshaphat says that he wanted them “not to set themselves in array for fighting; but to set the priests with their trumpets, and the Levites with the singers of hymns, to give thanks to God, as having already delivered our country from our enemies”).
Jehoshaphat appointed the singers at the front as an act of faith, believing that if they honoured God first, believing the word of His prophet, they would be victorious. Strangely the Ammonites and Moabites started to fight each other, eventually destroying themselves. The Israelites simply collected the booty. All of this because Jehoshaphat decided in his day of trouble to run to God, not from Him.
Psalm of Prayer
Wisdom forced from fear,
Wisdom crying “pray”.
A king who seeks one higher than he
Inspires his nation to the same.
They fast, they pray, they ask for help.
Help they receive,
“Praise” says the King.
“We’ll war with worship.”
Divided the enemy fell,
Defeated laughably, so simply, so quickly, so easily,
With God
It starts with prayer
Outnumbered? No matter!
Prayer, strategy, worship, victory!
Watch: NONE – C3 Music
Election Prayer Points
1. Pray that God would rule over this election – that righteous leaders would be elected to govern this nation in truth and justice because, “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice”. Proverbs 29:2
2. Pray God’s blessing upon all our current parliamentarians and leaders, including their families and all the candidates of all the parties standing for this federal election. 1 Timothy 2:1-3
3. Pray for a multiplication of prayer and unity across the Body of Christ in Australia that people will wake up to the dangers facing our nation and respond in prayer. Ephesians 5:14
4. Pray for a Spiritual Awakening for Australia, Revival and Transformation for our nation and the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16
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DEVOTIONAL 17 Author, 14 May
The Art of Prayer
Ps Phil Pringle
Phil and his wife Chris are the founders of the C3 Church Global movement. While living in a hippie commune in New Zealand they were radically saved. They set out for Australia in 1980 with a dream of starting a contemporary, relevant, and anointed church. Ps Phil is passionate about building faith-filled, anointed churches that are motivated to reach the lost, make disciples and develop leaders. C3 Global is now a movement of 500+ churches in 60 countries
Phil developed a TV show to inspire and empower people from all walks of life. “Your Best Life” now airs on television screens globally. He has also been an advocate for reviving the arts in ministry. Having studied Fine Arts at University, Phil is known for his artwork, sculptures and live paintings. Passionate about bringing leadership and the arts to the next generation, the Pringles began C3 College. It continues to grow each year, with streams ranging from vocals to screen production, teaching practical tools in ministry and the arts.
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Impacting and encouraging faith word which reminds us that when we trust in Father God as our defence, He gives us ‘astonishing victory’
Impacting and encouraging word reminding us that when we trust in Father God as our defence, He gives us ‘astonishing victory’
Love this Word from Ps Phil Pringle and I love his true heart for Australia and it’s future
Hit the nail on the head!
Thank you for this devotional. I am so encouraged by it because the Lord gave me the same Scripture when I was praying for the election and for our nation. May people right across the body of believers be strengthened by the Word of God and by knowing that the victory is His. He answers prayer, in the same way that He has always done, through responding to faith filled prayers from His people.
Amen! Hezekiah in Isaiah 37 was praying in a siege & YAHWEH defended the city in a mighty way.
Thank you.
Great Biblical article and a great story of how the Lord delivers on our prayers! This is a great movement and it has been my pleasure over the years to support Australia and their pseudo christian values. Your brothers and sisters in Christ…..America!
Great devotion
It’s wonderful to see leaders like Phil Pringle
lead and guide the Nation at such a critical
time. Thanks for reminding us the power of prayer and praise
It’s so encouraging to see leaders like Phil
Pringle guiding the nation at such a critical time
like this . Thanks for reminding us the power of prayer and praise!
Such a word from Heaven
The story of King Jehoshaphat is one of my favourites, many years ago my family’s world was thrown into turmoil and I felt overwhelmed by my surrounding circumstances, God spoke to me through this passage in a powerful way and I totally believe that this is so relevant for our nation at this time, the enemy is swirling around trying to destroy and deceive even the elect, keeping our focus and praise on God allows Him to defeat the enemy
Lord
Give us the strength and faith to pray and follow you
‘War with worship’ – a fantastic strategy!
I agree with Ps Pringle. We as a body of Christ we have the responsibility to pray for the nation.
Awesome
Absolutely agree: “When we trust God for our defence, he gives us the victory.”
So encouraging; A fresh reminder that we are not alone in this battle for our freedoms.
‘If the Lord is on our side, who can be against us’
Very encouraging message, God is our source of refuge, May He be Praised for the victory belongs to Him. Pray for this coming Election that God will appoint a godly leader ,one who would be a man of the Word and full of the Spirit of God, A God pleaser rather than a man pleaser
Exacctly
Exactly
Great word – so applicable at this time.
A great encouragement to never underestimate the power of prayer to our Mighty God.
A great encouragement at this time of deciding who is to lead our nation to never underestimate the power of prayer to our Mighty God.
Absolutely! “A king ( or Prime Minister) who seeks one higjer than he, inspires his nation to the same”. !!
Amen. Worship is the highest form of warfare
Spot on.
Let us worship the the Almighty
Wirship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He cannot fail. Jehoshaphat’s God is ours too. Look up!
Yes! In your “day of trouble to run to God, not from Him” and victory will come!
Anen
Faithful praise is the response that earth gives to the God of the heavens
Let’s be united and seek God, the battle is real. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the principalities, against the rulers of this darkness . Christians lets get united
The power of prayer is phenomenal. Keep praying people!