Online House of Prayer

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his website www.aneelaranha.com.

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Online House of Prayer

Psalm 20

January 25, 2023 • Aneel Aranha • Season 3 • Episode 20

0:00 | 5:40

Do you trust God? If yes, do you worry? Do you realize the inherent contradiction because if we trust God how can we worry?

Psalm 020 - A Prayer for Victory

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
Now this I know:
The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
LORD, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!

Let me begin this reflection by asking you a question. Do you trust God? Did you say yes? Good. Let me ask you another question. Do you worry? About your family, your finances, your health, your job, your future, your security, your life? If you answered yes, it doesn’t matter how forcefully you declared you trust God; you don’t. You put your faith in your own abilities or resources or in somebody else or something else, and because there is no assurance of success, you worry.

David knew better. In David’s time, wars were fought with horses and chariots, and most rulers believed that strong horses and well-equipped chariots won battles. However, David saw that these were merely superficial realities. The real decider of victory was God and, being the wise man he was, David put his faith in God. And God honored that faith time and time again.

David wasn’t the only person with such faith. The Old Testament is littered with similar men. One was another king named Jehoshaphat. Once, three armies — the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites — waged war against him. He promptly dropped to his knees in prayer. It wasn’t long before God told him: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (2 Chronicles 20:17). Jehoshaphat won the war without having to fire a single arrow. Read the incredible story in 2 Chronicles 20.

Many years later, Jesus would advise us: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:22-26).

So, let us be like David, not worrying but trusting God to give us victory. And he will.

God be with you.