Choose Your Battles

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”

—ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem.

—2 Chronicles 20:17

Quite often, the simple life feels out of reach because of all the problems and challenges that crop up. Trials and difficulties will happen, but it’s how we handle them that makes the difference. There are far too many battles in life to try and fight them all, so we must choose the ones we feel are worth the effort. Many things are better off left alone. Prayer and time also changes a lot of things, and just waiting for a while may save us a battle or two. If you are confronted with a challenge, don’t respond right away. Give yourself time to think about it, and wait a couple of days to decide. Take the time to weigh your choices so you can make wise, solid decisions.

God told Jehoshaphat (see 2 Chronicles 20:17–22) that he and his people did not need to fight the battle at hand, yet there were other times He did instruct His people to fight. We need to listen to God and choose our battles carefully. I lived for many years making a battle out of everything. I prided myself in being a confronter, but I finally realized it often takes more courage to wait on God than it does to attack something in my own timing.

God told Jehoshaphat to worship, to sing, to praise, and to wait. As he obeyed God, the enemy became confused and destroyed each other. Are you in the habit of praying and thinking before you attack, or do you just attack and wonder why life gets so complex and frustrating? Do you ever wonder why you are always dealing with something? If so, maybe you need to simply not deal with everything that comes along. Some things work themselves out if you give them time to do so. Ask God for the wisdom to recognize the difference between problems that have the potential to blaze and those that will likely smolder and burn themselves out.