Valley of Blessing - Encouragement for Today - January 6, 2020

Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths. [View this email in your browser]( Encouragement for Today --------------------------------------------------------------- [Brenda Bradford Ottinger]January 6, 2020 Valley of Blessing [BRENDA BRADFORD OTTINGER]( [Listen to this devotion]( “On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.” [2 Chronicles 20:26]( (NLT) We looked like a normal family. On weekends. Every Friday night, my husband’s plane would land, and we’d cram all manner of family life into two insufficient days before Monday barged in with the next flight out. Week after week, month after eight long months. Weekdays were a crash course in “single-mom” life for me as employment changes split our household across 800 miles. As we searched for a job that would bring us back together full-time, my heart beat to the rhythm of a familiar refrain: Lord, “we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” ([2 Chronicles 20:12]( NIV). This prayer by King Jehoshaphat is one I return to often, for it speaks into the deep of a troubled-yet-trusting heart. You see, the king prayed these words after hearing a large army was on its way to destroy Judah. People throughout Judah came to Jerusalem seeking God’s help, and as Jehoshaphat prayed with them, the Spirit of the Lord spoke through a gentleman in the crowd, advising them that God would fight for them. Upon hearing this, the king and all the people worshipped and praised the Lord. Friend, at this point, the enemy was still on its way to attack them! Judah didn’t reserve their worship until the enemy was defeated, but praised God for a victory yet unseen. The next morning, while en route to meet their rivals, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to walk ahead, praising and thanking God. And, oh how the Lord honored their worship — the moment their praise began, He caused the enemies to turn on each other and start fighting themselves! [Continue reading...]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Subscription Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( --------------------------------------------------------------- © 2020 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Encouragement for Today. [Link](