Change. Conflict. Fear. Wars. Rumors of wars. Generations battling generations. Generations warring within themselves. The world is changing so quickly that many awaken with anxiety daily. Rick Joyner says, “Change is now coming on the world so fast, that the only thing we can count on is change.”

How do we respond to all the changes around us Do they overtake us Are we a people being tossed to and fro with every societal, environmental and religious change that comes along

Isaiah 33:6 says, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.”

Stability means firmness of position; resistance to disintegration, not likely to fall, give way or overturn; firm or steady. Yet instead of stability, many Christians have seen change bring destruction to families, cities and nations. Change can bring fear.

But even in the face of earth-shattering change, God says, “Fear not! But the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” Carry out great exploits means that we will take the available resources and cause multiplication to occur. Each of us has a future and a hope. In that future and hope, God has a plan for prosperity.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John: 2). God longs for you to prosper and succeed in life. He longs for you to accomplish all that he has destined for you to accomplish. And he longs to lead you down the road to possessing your inheritance.

One of the most beautiful stories about possessing inheritance comes from 2 Chronicles: 20. In the context of this passage, a federation of enemy nations was coming against the tribe of Judah to overtake it. In days past, God had prevented Israel from invading these nations, because God always knows what wars can be won. He knew that as these enemy nations came together, their multiplied strength would overpower Judah.

Perhaps you can relate to this story: feeling as though numerous enemies are coming against you. It may seem that when you have defeated one, another rises. You may have seen many things in your life fall into rubble. But take heart! God is with you, and he has a plan for overthrowing your enemies.

Such was the case in 2 Chronicles: 20. Judah’s king at the time was Jehosaphat, who was a godly man. Through prayer and fasting, Jesoshaphat sought the Lord for a strategy to defeat the enemies standing in the way of Judah’s God-given inheritance (v3). God is always faithful to those who cry out to him. When Jehoshaphat cried out, God answered through a prophet who gave the following detailed instructions for victory:

• They had to let go of fear. It was not their battle; it was God’s (v15).

• They had to position themselves to meet the enemy head-on (v17).

• They were to stand still and see the salvation of God (v17).

• They had to believe by faith that God would defeat their enemies (v20).

• They had to believe the word of the prophets over their lives and inheritance (v20).

As they followed God’s plan, Jehoshaphat led them into worship and instructed the people to posture themselves in faith.

Faith is that pause between knowing what God’s plan is and seeing it actually take place. Faith sees the ruins. Faith sees what has been torn down. Faith sees what has never been completed. But faith can look at a situation and see what God sees — the thing already rebuilt or completed.

Live a life of faith ….

• To contact Pastor Greg Nethaway, call 835-1972. All religious leaders within the Tracy community are invited to write columns for Reflections on Faith.