By Pastor Shana Wise
There is a blessing in the valley!
2 Chronicles 20:26 (NLT)
King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 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.
When I think of the valleys that I have experience in my life, I think of a dark, desolate, hopeless, and a gloomy place. I felt like I was in a place of being stuck and no matter how hard I tried; it was so hard to get of out. Some examples of my valleys have been depression, financial debt, failure, praying for years, and situations seeming not to change, and mental heaviness from dealing with the pressures of life.
What valleys are you facing or have faced in the past?
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Read 2 Chron. 20: 3-13.
King Jehoshaphat and his country were in a “spiritual valley experience” before they arrived at the physical valley of the battlefield. His country was faced with being attacked by three countries that had banded together and they greatly outnumbered the Israelites. The king fasted, prayed, inquired of God, and reminisce on what God had done for them in the past.
When was the last time you prayed and fasted? What did God speak to you?
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As you reminisce on what God has done for you, your family, or others in the past, how does that make you view your future? Or, if you feel like you are in a valley now, what are you expecting God to do for you now based on your history with him?
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Another thing King Jehoshaphat chose to do was to expect to hear a word from God, and when he received it, he worshipped God for who He was. He also chose to obey God and followed His instructions (2 Chron 20:15-18, 20).
What has God spoken to you as it relates to your purpose in life?
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Write a prayer of thanksgiving unto Your Lord God Almighty.
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Before Jehoshaphat and the Israelite army showed up to the valley to fight the enemy, God had made the enemy attack themselves and all of them died and their bodies and plunder were lying in the valley (2 Chronicles 22-30). The Israelites did not have to fight at all, instead, they showed up to collect the blessing of God! They left rich and victorious over the enemy, to the point, none of the other surrounding enemies wanted to fight them because they knew that God was with them! What an awesome God we serve!
What miracles have you experienced in your life?
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As I continued to research valleys in the bible, I found that many other blessings of provision and resources are found in valleys. From wells, living places, good ground to plant food, hiding places, etc., valleys were created by God to bless his people.
The valley has also been the place where many battles of the Israelites were fought. In the bible, we have found God's judgment, miracles, and prophecies have taken place in the valley. Ultimately, we can conclude that whatever we think the valley is, good or bad, God is working it out for our good (Rom. 8:28).
More application and thoughts regarding valleys:
Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
How has this scripture helped you when you had to walk through the valley of death concerning a loved one?
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Ezekiel 37:1-3, The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed, they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
What “dry bones” do you have in your life that you need to prophecy to and make come back to life again? Some examples of these “dry bones” can represent your dreams that have not come to pass, your health, lost love ones, finances, your faith and walk with God, etc.
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Joshua 10:12, Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
You may need heaven to intercept earth regarding your present valley experience, like Joshua needed in the midst of his battle. Write out a prayer as it relates to what you supernaturally need God to do in your life.
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About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor and CEO of Wise Choice Ministries (est. 2016). She is the founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network formally known as Christian Women Preachers United. Dr. Wise is the author of women’s devotional, Acts of Intercession, and The Impact of Your Election (available on Amazon). She received a doctor of divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives, and demonstrate the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist that appears on social media outlets and television. Shana is married to Ron Wise and is the mother of four children.
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