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Prayer plus strategy equals success – @iamsamhotep #LAAccess 

Judges 20 was very instructional for me.
The children of the Israelites were about 400, 000 men while the Benjamites and the people of Gibeah were approximately about 27, 000. Rationally the Children of Israelites were expected to win the battle but they did something unusual that we should always do even when the odds are in our favour.
Judges  20:18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
Knowing that the Lord have given them go ahead to go to war, one would have expected them to then win with their numbers but that didn’t happen 22, 000 of them were killed. Haaaa!!! Is God a liar faaa?
But what was their reaction? Did they murmur or curse God? Did they leave the church? Did they blaspheme against God?
Judges  20:23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
They went back to God to cry. Like God what just happened but because they really relied on God, they sought counsel again and went into battle and was beaten again. 18 thousand men. Nawow!
Didn’t they say, ‘once beaten, twice shy?’
But NO, they believed in their God and they went back to their source of strength and wept, and fasted and made burnt offerings. They consecrated their lives. They wanted to be sure that nothing was amiss this time. And then they inquired and God gave them an unequivocal response.
Judges  20:28 And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand. Amen!!
Coupled to that they worked on their strategy for battle
Judges  20:29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
And they finally won the battle.
Like I said the chapter is instructional for me in that in the battles of life I must have absolute trust in God no matter if the battle is won or not. A rare state where my trust is not motivated by the happenings in my life.
While reading that chapter I was reminded of the verse of this song
Verse 1 of CGS 507
I always go to Jesus,

When troubled or distressed,

I always find a refuge,

Upon His loving breast,

I tell Him all my trials,

I tell Him all my grief, 

And while my lips are speaking,

He gives my heart relief.
God is encouraging us today that no matter what life may represent for us now, we shall surely win the battle in the end.

May God bless the family

Sam Orujekwe