JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 21, 2017 — Author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst encouraged students, faculty and staff in a Feb. 17 51社区 chapel service to resolve to be obedient to God.
鈥淵ou don't have to strategize and manipulate and try to figure out the battle you're facing right now,鈥� she said. 鈥淗onestly, your job is just to be obedient to God. God's job is everything else.鈥�
TerKeurst is the best-selling author of 18 books and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She also spoke at a women鈥檚 conference hosted by Union Feb. 18. More than 1,100 women from 113 churches attended that event.
Stephanie Edge, associate professor of computer science and organizer of the conference, said TerKeurst is an inspiration to many women who have read her books and heard her teaching.
鈥淎s president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa and her staff are passionate about teaching the Word of God in ways that get people excited to live the Bible out loud,鈥� Edge said.
TerKeurst shared the story of Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20 in her chapel message. She said Jehoshaphat was able to defeat an entire army without raising a weapon because he was obedient to God and allowed him to fight the battle.
鈥淛ehoshaphat never had to lift a weapon,鈥� TerKeurst said. 鈥淗e just lifted up his trust and his honor and his praise to his God, and God fought for him. I wonder what would happen if we did the same thing.鈥�
She said Jehoshaphat felt alarmed by the situation, but he was also resolved to be obedient to God no matter what.
鈥淥ur feelings are wonderful indicators,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut they should never be dictators of how we act or react in a situation.鈥�
TerKeurst said Jehoshaphat鈥檚 resolve was not based on his strength or the strength of his army. She said people often attempt to be resolved within themselves, but when battles come, that resolve breaks down. She said resolve is internal, but it must be based in something external.
鈥淭o be resolved is to anchor our hope to something beyond ourselves, and we know that the answer is Jesus,鈥� TerKeurst said. 鈥淭he Lord himself is where we can get this resolve. We won鈥檛 find it within ourselves.鈥�
She said Christians must recognize that God knows more than any person, and he is in control. She said when people take their eyes off God, they put the burden of knowledge, strength and power on themselves.
鈥淣o one should have to carry the weight of being their own god,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut so many of us try.鈥�