Category: Uncategorized

2 Chronicles 14:10

And Asa cried out to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, with You it is not impossible, whether with the many or with the few. Strengthen us, Lord our God, for we trust in You. And in Your name we go against this multitude. Lord our God, do not let man prevail against You!”

Personal Challenge

When will we ever learn that nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for our Lord? We have become so accustomed to our modern conveniences and the culture around us that we have turned away from our God and put our trust in the things of this world. Nothing is impossible for the God of our fathers. If we rest in His arms and trust fully in Him, then nothing is impossible in our lives as well. Glory be to God!

2 Chronicles 7:14

If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will be merciful to their sins and heal their land.

Personal Challenge

The people of Israel, God’s chosen people, were given the instructions that they needed in order to get their land healed. Why was this necessary? Because they had departed from the way that the Lord had called them to. The church created by Christ is God’s chosen people. We too can follow these instructions to heal our land. it all begins with humbling ourselves before our God, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways. So often we call out this verse and call upon God to do the healing, but we do not follow the steps outlined for us to do. God desires to be merciful to us in our sins and to heal our land, but we must act first. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Chronicles 1:10-12

Give me wisdom and understanding, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

And God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor did you ask for long life, but you asked for wisdom and understanding for yourself, that you might judge My people over whom I made you king, now I will give you this wisdom and understanding. I will also give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings before you possessed, nor shall any after you possess.”

Personal Challenge

What has become important to our society? What has become important to us? What has become important to me? Is it wealth and prosperity? Is it honor and respect from those around us? Is it to be able to live a long life? Is it life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Solomon was given the opportunity to receive from God whatever he asked for. He could have asked for all of the items above. He didn’t. He asked for wisdom and understanding, not for his own use, but so that he could effectively judge as the king over God’s people. Would I be willing to ask for something like this if given the chance? I would hope so. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Chronicles 28:9

“And now, my son Solomon, know the God of your fathers, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing soul; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you forever.”

Personal Challenge

We always make things more difficult in our Christian walk than it needs to be. We complain that we do not clearly know what God’s will is for us. We get anxious because we say that we do not know what He wants us to do. However, the scriptures make it clear to us the answers to these quandaries. We need to get to know the God of our fathers and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing soul. It is that which is in our hearts that God watches, not the things that we say or do. It is what is behind what we say and do that reveals our true nature. God wants us to seek Him at all times, for we will find Him every time. Jesus made all of this so much clearer when He gave the two commandments that sum up the entire law of the old Testament. We are to love our God and to love our neighbor. If we could pursue these two commandments from our heart, we will be seeking God and will know Him, the God of our fathers. Glory be to God!

2 Chronicles 30:18-20

Most of the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not cleansed themselves, but they ate the Passover contrary to what was written.

But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, even though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

Encouraging Words

The people of Israel had many laws that they were expected to follow. They kept straying from their God and therefore kept abandoning these laws. The laws were put in place because of their stubborn ways and their blatant refusal to follow their God, the God that brought them out of captivity in Egypt. And yet, at this point in time, they have returned to God and are desiring to practice their Pascha in repentance of their sins. They had not cleansed themselves as their laws demanded. Hezekiah prayed on their behalf asking that God look at their hearts and not their outward appearances, which is what He always does. By this supplication, they were healed and purified by the Lord. We too have a Hezekiah praying to God on our behalf, the Lord Jesus Christ, praying that we’ll be cleansed before our God. Glory be to God!

1 Chronicles 16:34

And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
And deliver us from the Gentiles
To praise Your holy name,
And boast in Your praises.”

Personal Challenge

We are no different than our predecessors in Israel. We call upon the Lord God of our fathers to save us and protect us. He is the God of our salvation and He delivers us from the enemy and the world. But do we remember to praise Him for what He has done in our lives or do we forget Him and continue to go on with our lives? Do we boast in Him or do we boast in ourselves? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Kings 6:16

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are greater in number than those who are with them.”

Encouraging Words

We are not alone in this life. We need to stop living our lives as if the temporal world around us is everything that there is. We also live in a spiritual world that is ever-present around us. Elisha pointed this out so clearly to his servant in this passage. They were surrounded by the immense Syrian army and the servant was convinced that they were doomed. When Elisha asked that his eyes be opened to the spiritual reality around them, the servant could see that the army of God vastly outnumbered and outpowered the Syrians. These two worlds still exist today and it is upon us to open our eyes to the reality of God’s presence in our lives. Glory be to God!

1 Kings 22:5

Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Ask the Lord today.”

Personal Challenge

We all have the impression that a king can do whatever they want, whenever they want. It used to be that way in Old Testament times. However, for the kings that trusted and followed their Jehovah, it was not up to them to make decisions. Before they would make their decisions they would seek God’s advice and direction first. Maybe we should start doing this with our Lord. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!