II Chronicles 20:15 “Jesus said to him, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” 

A few days ago, I read the Daily Hope devotional from Rick Warren entitled “Maybe It’s Time to Give Up.” What he explained is that we are to give up our efforts in battles and give them to God as instructed in II Chronicles 20:15. Warren gave a great illustration which is so applicable to us. “Suppose you are sitting in an airplane ready to take off. As the plane speeds down the runway, you start flappy your arms. As the speed increases and the nose begins to lift in the air, you flap your arms faster and faster. The flight attendant then asks you this question, “What are you doing?” Your answer is, “Oh, I am helping us get off the ground.” Both your words and your actions would be ridiculous.” However, this is exactly what we do when we try to do things that only God can do.

We often get tired, anxious, and frustrated when we try to do things that only God can do. And, we try to fight battles that belong to God and we are not God. When we assume God’s role, it wears us out and we were never meant to carry the battle in the first place. What are we to do? We are to give it up, pray, and give it to Him. Just like the jet engines hold up an airplane, God is the one who holds us up. He doesn’t expect us to do what only He can do. Too often those of us who are leaders want to flap our arms and help win the battle that is really his. Yes, we have to do our part and follow his direction through the Holy Spirit and His Word. When we finally get tired of flappy our arms and self-effort, maybe it’s time to give it up and give it to him. I have found myself in this situation many times in the battles of life. Remember: “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”