A God Filled Prayer

Today’s reading is 2 Kings 16-20.

“Incline your ears, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God…So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone” (2 Kings 19:16, 19, ESV). Hezekiah’s life is on the line. Hezekiah’s reign is on the line. Hezekiah’s nation is on the line. But what is his number one concern? The reputation of his God is on the line. What am I concerned about when I pray for a better job, better marriage, better family, better church, better health? Is it so I can have an easier, softer, more convenient life or so the world will know having Yahweh as my God makes a difference? May we all learn to pray the prayer of the God Filled.

Tomorrow’s reading is 2 Kings 21-25.

Remove the High Places

Today’s reading is 2 Kings 12-15.

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places” (2 Kings 15:34-35, ESV). Being God Filled is a growth process. That is how an oversight can be made in spiritual matters and yet the overall description can be claimed that Jotham did right. However, make no mistake, God is not saying it was okay to still have high places. High places mattered because they left a foothold of idolatrous rebellion in the hearts of the people which ultimately led to their destruction. While reforms were made, idolatry was not stamped out. In like manner, God’s grace bears with us as we grow, but let us never thing God’s grace is permission to maintain our high places. Rather, it is the strength to keep growing as we learn to stamp out the high places. Keep your eyes open for your own high places and stamp them out.

Tomorrow’s reading is 2 Kings 16-20.

We Only Need One Ally

Today’s reading is 1 Kings 21-22; 2 Kings 1-3.

Jehoshaphat was a good king. God even had special regard for him over the other kings around him (cf. 2 Kings 3:14). But he was not a great king. Why? He kept making alliances with the wrong people. He married his son into Ahab’s family, which ultimately caused problems for the family. He went to battle with Ahab and lost. He built ships with Ahaziah, so God destroyed them (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:35-37). The long and short of it is this: the God Filled don’t need to compromise with the world filled, ally with them, or capitulate to them. God brings victory and greatness, not the world. We don’t need any other alliances than God.

Tomorrow’s reading is 2 Kings 4-7.