SIMPLE STEPS TO SOLVING LIFE'S PROBLEMS
NEGATIVE RESPONSES TO PROBLEMS
1. Avoiding the problem. Pretending that it isn’t there.
a. It’s like when a small child wants to play hide and go seek. They run and sit in the corner and cover their eyes. “If I can’t see me, then you can’t either!”
2. Talk, talk, talking to everyone about it. What usually happens when you do this?
3. Whining about it. “Poor me, look what happened!”
a. If you fall in the pigpen with mud and manure, is sitting and whining about it going to change anything?
10 STEPS TO VICTORY
[First, read the story in 2 Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat’s situation.]
1. Identify and classify the problem.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:1–2—The Moabites and the Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
b. Do we really have a problem? Is it ours or someone else’s?
c. Collect the facts.
d. Classify. Is this a natural, emotional, physical, social, or spiritual problem?
e. Find the source of the problem.
f. Don’t falsely accuse or blame God. He wants you to have “life to the full” (John 10:10).
2. Seek the Lord.
- 2 Chronicles 20:3–5—Jehoshaphat fasted and sought the Lord.
- Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
3. Pray and apply biblical principles.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:6–12—Jehoshaphat’s prayer.
b. Prayer unlocks God’s potential.
4. Stand in faith.
- 2 Chronicles 20:9, 20—Jehoshaphat declares his faith.
- [Read Ephesians 6:13–20.]
- 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight.”
- Accept the situation with the eye of faith. Don’t live in denial.
5. Focus on the answer, not the problem.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:12—We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.
b. Romans 4:17 talks about “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”
c. Control your thoughts: Philippians 4:6; II Corinthians 10:5
d. Don’t allow your mind to play the “what would happen if” game.
e. Control your words.
6. Put your problem in perspective.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:15,—Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the big army. The battle is God’s!
b. Think about it. The God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who is on your side.
c. How does your problem compare to God’s ability and resources?
7. Pursue God’s wisdom and plan.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:16–17: “Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the
b. Most of the time our response hinders the situation instead of helping.
c. God’s plan will lead you out of the jaws of defeat and into victory.
8. Cast all your cares upon Him.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:18 says, “Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of
b. You can rest in Him when you worship Him.
c. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
d. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
9. Take the necessary natural steps.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:20—“Early in the morning they left for the
b. Were they afraid? You bet! But they would have never seen victory unless they took action.
c. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
10. Look for the blessings.
a. 2 Chronicles 20:25 says, “So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.”
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