We Have Armies Approaching … God, What Is Our Strategy For Our Christian Schools?

God is calling His people to stand up and recognise what is happening in our society, and especially in our Christian schools. There is an army approaching—and in some ways already attacking—and we have either ignored it or have struck back with limited success.

But what is this “army”? How is it causing havoc? Why are we not being as effective as we should be? And what strategies does God give so that we can live—and lead—faithfully?

The story in 2 Chronicles 20 shows us a powerful model. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah faced an overwhelming army and discovered that victory comes only by God’s hand. Let’s explore how this passage guides us today, particularly as Christian schools partner with families to raise students who will thrive now, when they leave school, and for eternity.

Step 1 – Recognise and Name the Problem

2 Chronicles 20:1-2 (NKJV): “It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, ‘A great multitude is coming against you…’”

The very first step to overcoming any challenge is to recognise that there is a problem honestly. Jehoshaphat did not pretend that things were fine; he acknowledged the army advancing against him. In our Christian schools, we too must name the “armies” that confront us, rather than ignore them or hope they will simply go away.

Three armies are particularly pressing against us:

1. Culture – Students are immersed in music, movies, social media, and digital content that subtly (and often overtly) reprogram how they view relationships, identity, and purpose. Instead of shaping their thinking by God’s Word, many absorb unfiltered messages about sexuality, success, power, or even truth itself. The Bible warns us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). We must train students to discern culture through a biblical lens, to live in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-16).

   
   

2. Religion – Knowledge about God is not enough. Without a personal relationship with Jesus, faith becomes hollow or even toxic. Many young people, after being at a Christian school, either abandon their faith entirely or settle for superficial religious practices. Jesus warned of this danger: “These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). We must both model a genuine relationship with students and invite them to encounter God truly, not just learn information about Him.

   
   

3. Health – More students are living with physical, mental, and emotional health challenges, creating barriers to learning and relationships. Issues like anxiety, ADHD, and family stress weigh heavily. God reminds us that our bodies are His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and that He cares about every part of our well-being.

   
   

Naming these enemies honestly is the first step in discovering God’s strategy. Please note here that there are more, but this is a brief overview of what we are fighting against.

Step 2 – Fast, Pray, and Seek God’s Help

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (NKJV): “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord.”

Jehoshaphat did not gather his generals, sharpen swords, or count soldiers. His first action was spiritual—he called a fast and sought the Lord. This is a radical act of dependence. Fasting clears space in our lives for God to move; prayer humbles us and acknowledges our inability to win the battle in our own strength.

For Christian schools, this is critical. We can write policies, implement new programs, or hire experts, but without God’s presence and strategy, we will only achieve limited, human results. Scripture reminds us: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1).

Fasting and prayer unite God’s people. Jehoshaphat didn’t do this alone—the whole community gathered. Likewise, schools must partner with staff, parents, and churches to seek God together. This is not a one-off prayer at the start of the year, but an ongoing rhythm of dependence.

Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Anxiety will either paralyse us or drive us to God. The way forward is not fear or frantic action—it is prayerful surrender.

Step 3 – Acknowledge Who God Is

2 Chronicles 20:6-9 (NKJV): “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?”

Before telling God the problem, Jehoshaphat first proclaimed who God is. This is not for God’s benefit but for ours. When we lift our eyes from the problem to the greatness of God, perspective shifts. He is Creator, Sovereign, Deliverer, and Faithful Friend.

Schools and families must model this for students. Instead of focusing solely on cultural challenges or health crises, we declare: “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). Acknowledging God reminds us that He is greater than the armies we face.

Jehoshaphat also remembered God’s past faithfulness—how He had driven out enemies before and established Israel in the land. This anchors our confidence. When schools remember testimonies of God’s provision, past victories, and changed lives, it fuels fresh courage.

Worship in the face of opposition is not denial—it is declaration. It says, “Our God reigns, even here.” Students need to see leaders who confidently acknowledge God’s sovereignty, not leaders panicked by cultural trends or political pressures.

Step 4 – Tell God the Problem

2 Chronicles 20:12 (NKJV):“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude… nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Jehoshaphat was blunt: “We don’t have the power, we don’t know what to do, but we are looking at You.” This is humility. Too often, schools and churches try to appear competent, strong, and self-sufficient. But God invites us to bring our weakness to Him.

We must articulate the problem—whether it’s cultural confusion among students, dead religion, or rising health needs—and lay it before God. This is not complaining, but surrender. Scripture reminds us: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

There is power in honest prayer. When leaders admit their limits, it creates space for God’s limitless power. Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). God is not waiting for us to present perfect plans; He is waiting for us to look to Him.

Step 5 – Wait on God and Listen

2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV):“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

After Judah prayed, they waited. They stood together in silence until God’s Spirit spoke through Jahaziel. This step is often overlooked. We rush from prayer into action, but victory comes when we first pause to hear God’s voice.

Waiting requires faith and patience. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…” In waiting, God renews, directs, and equips us.

For schools, this means creating space for God to speak. Staff meetings, student worship, and even classrooms must not be filled only with human voices but tuned to God’s Word and Spirit. Jesus promised: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

God’s message to Judah was clear: the battle belonged to Him. Our role is to position ourselves, stand firm, and trust His deliverance. This flips the script—our hope is not in our strategies but in God’s presence with us.

Step 6 – Praise and Worship God

2 Chronicles 20:18-19 (NKJV):“Jehoshaphat bowed his head … and all Judah … bowed before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.”

Worship was their immediate response—not after the victory, but before it. Praise is both an act of faith and a weapon of war. When we worship, we declare that God is worthy and sovereign, regardless of changing circumstances.

Psalm 22:3 reminds us: “God inhabits the praises of His people.” Worship brings God’s presence into the battle. In schools, cultivating a culture of worship helps students understand that faith is not about ritual, but about relationship.

This is radical: before sending soldiers into the battlefield, Jehoshaphat sent singers. Worship disarms fear and unleashes God’s power. When we sing “Great is the Lord,” it is not sentiment—it is strategy.

For Christian schools, regular rhythms of worship—such as chapels, devotions, Bible reading, prayer, songs, and Scripture memory—are not extras but essentials. They train students to fight spiritual battles not with arguments or aggression but with adoration. Worship shifts the atmosphere, lifts our perspective, and prepares the way for God to act.

Summary

We are not left defenceless when the “armies” of culture, religion without relationship, and health crises press in. God calls us to:

• Recognise the problem

• Seek Him in prayer and fasting

• Proclaim His greatness

• Humbly present our need

• Wait for His strategy

• Worship Him in faith

• Obey His Word with trust

• Walk daily in His victory

This is the pathway for Christian schools, families, and communities to raise a generation that thrives not only now but also for eternity.

Six Key Questions for Reflection

1. What “armies” do I see threatening my family, school, or community?

2. How am I equipping myself and others to filter life through God’s Word?

3. Am I helping students (or those I influence) know God personally, not just know about Him?

4. Where do I need to humbly admit, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You”?

5. How can worship and praise become a regular weapon in my life and community?

6. In what ways is God calling me to walk in His victory and blessings, without forgetting Him in times of peace?