(Editor’s Note: The following is the first part of the second message of a series preached by Brother Easton on prayer)

It is a fact that even believers have problems and challenges in their lives. Sometimes these seem to be perplexing and overwhelming.

Let me ask you: How do you, as a believer, go about solving those problems and facing those challenges in your life which sometimes seem impossible? This is what we will be dealing with.

In this passage of Scripture, I believe we can find some truths that will helps us to handle our problems. In fact, we will discover some truths that will help us to solve our problems through prayer. These will be truths you will want to remember, because sooner or later, there will be a time when you will need the super-natural  power of God to help you solve a problem.

(II Chronicles 20:1-3) “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. (2) Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. (3) And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”

Look at II Chronicles 20:14. Here we find that as they stood in the assembly, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, and he prophesied what God wanted Jehoshaphat to hear.

II Chronicles 20:17 gives us part of that prophesy: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”

In II Chronicles 20:20, they met the enemy, “…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

And now read II Chronicles 20:29-30, “And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. (30) So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.”

Jehoshaphat was King of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, for about 25 years, and he was a good king. He was a righteous man who tried to bring about a revival of faith in God in the nation. He had an army of about a million men. On this particular occasion, he heard about the armies of the Moabites and the Ammonites coming together to do battle with Judah to drive them out of their land. When he heard this, his first inclination was to be afraid. But notice what he did when he was afraid:

“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (II Chronicles 20:3)

I am sure there are some reading this who are facing a crisis in their lives right now. I know without a shadow of a doubt that there are some who will face a challenge in the near future. When these challenges come our way, if we do not pray right, or act right, then our prayers and actions will be in vain. Maybe God let you read this to discover why and how a person can pray about their problems and never get a solution.

If you will study this passage of Scripture with me, and abide by what you learn, I believe you can discover how you can pray and receive a solution to your dilemma. It begins with a question: Am I willing to abide by God’s solution, whatever that solution may be?

So I want us to look at some truths for problem-solving that can be found in this passage of Scripture:

A. When You Pray to God About Your Problems, You Need to Understand That He Cares About Your Problems

If we are not careful, we will develop the attitude of the Disciples when they were caught in a storm: “Master, don’t you even care that we are all about to perish” (Mark 4:38). You must understand that God does know and does care about your problem. Peter tells us, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Jehoshaphat knew and understood this truth. Therefore, he could talk to God about his problem. Let’s look at the prayer Jehoshaphat prayed. Notice how Jehoshaphat addressed God, “… O LORD God of our fathers…” (II Chronicles 20:6)

It was very important that Jehoshaphat begin his prayer in this manner. It’s the same with us, because when you and I trusted Christ as our Savior, God the Father revealed His Covenant Relationship in Christ to us. This is a relationship of promise, whereby God made a pledge with you and me that everything which concerns us will concern Him. Every desire of our heart will concern Him. God has committed to live within us, and face every problem that we face, because we are in a Covenant Relationship with Him. He desires to work in our lives. The moment we received Christ in our life, we were revealed that we are, in fact, a child of God. And God cares about His children.

So the first thing we need to remember is that God cares about our problems.

B. You Need to Pray With The Understanding that God is Greater Than Any Problem You Might Have or Face

Look at II Chronicles 20:6 again, “… O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”

Is God all-powerful? Is He all-knowing? Is He merciful? Has he made a covenant relationship with us? Yes, He has.

Can you think about anything today, any problem, any challenge, any battle, any suffering, any pain, any circumstance under any condition that is too large for God? Of course you cannot.

So, the second thing you and I need to remember is that our problem is not too big for our God. God is greater than any problem we might have.

What does that mean for us? It means when we face problems, we face them on the principle that not only is our God interested in our problems; but He has already become involved in our problems, and He is powerful enough to handle them. God is not weakened or intimidated by our problems. They pose no threat to God. He made the universe!

I am sure there are some of you who are thinking, ‘Brother, that is OK to think about, but you don’t realize how big my problem is.’

I don’t have to. God is aware of it.

You see the way we pray sometimes indicates whether or not we believe that God is greater than our problems. Once you have established the fact that the God you are serving is greater than your problems, then you have your problems close to being solved.