Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him... Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 

2 Chronicles 2:2-4, 18-20

Alarming circumstances demand action. Instinctively, your body responds to threats by releasing chemicals like adrenaline and altering heart rate. Thinking about these responses is not necessary, they happen automatically. But there are other more conscious decisions men make when handing challenging circumstances. These are wide-ranging, but every man responds in some way. Jehoshaphat demonstrated a response that all men should consider.

The text tells us the King was alarmed, and for a good reason. With an opposing army on the horizon, notice what he chose to do next. He resolved to seek God's advice, and he fasted as an expression of dependence on God. You may not face an army as this king did, but part of being a man means facing alarming circumstances. How you chose to react influences not only the outcome but also those around you. Be resolved to inquire of God in the midst of challenge.

DO THIS TODAY: Train yourself to respond by prayer and dependence on God.