To Follow Him Only

I’ve been making my through God Searches For A Heart Fully His as my quiet time. When I do a PUP Study as part of my quiet time it typically takes longer than it would in a group study. If I have time I will do the who days homework, if not I just break it into sections. Regardless I have thoroughly enjoyed this time learning about how to have a heart that is fully His. It is the desire of my heart.

I want my heart, my life, to be completely His, don’t you? I have written other blogs while doing this study, here, here, here and here if you would like to read more.

Now on to something I saw last week in my studies and have been anxious to share it with you!

I’ve been in 2 Chron 17 –19 learning about King Jehoshaphat. He was the king of Judah during King Ahab of Israel. But for today I want to concentrate on chapter 17. He is described as a man who the Lord was with. He followed David’s example and did not seek the Baals. Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and followed His commandments. Then in the last part of verse 4 it says, “and he did not act as Israel did.”

Chapter 17 goes on to tell us that he took great pride in the ways of the Lord and removed the high places. He also sent out officials and priests to teach the book of the law to the people throughout the cities of Judah. Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor among the nations and they did not make war on him.

Jehoshaphat is off to a good start and we get a clear look at a heart that seeks God. A heart that is fully His is one that seeks the Lord. He follows the commandments and does not worship other gods.

Throughout this study I have seen other kings described in similar ways. But here there was something different. Something new I hadn’t seen before and it struck my heart and I’ve been chewing on it since.
Verse 4 tells us, “and he did not act as Israel did.” Why was this mentioned? I mean I would understand it saying “he did not act as the nations around him.” That is something God had said over and over to His people. But to not act as Israel? Were they not also apart of His people?

To find out why read more here.

To Finish Well

In my last blog post I shared how King Asa was a king that sought the Lord. He removed idols from the kingdom and He restored the things in house of God.

I shared “…the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2 Chron 15:2) God was with the King. God gives Asa a reign of peace, without war. We are even told that King “…Asa's heart was blameless...” (2 Chron 15:7)

At this point you could say that King Asa was off to a good start. A life that pleases God. A life that seeks God in all he does. He was running his race and he was winning, so to speak. He was living a life of peace in the land. But if you read verse 19 of chapter 15 you see that things change in the 35th year of his reign.

Beginning in 2 Chron 16 we see that war breaks out. Now you would think that King Asa would remember that in the past God helped them defeat an army of a million men. (16:8-9) King Asa had prayed to God (16:11) for help and God answered. (16:12-15) But this time when war comes King Asa takes matters into his own hands. He doesn’t seek God’s counsel. He makes a treaty with the king of Aram.

Was he over confident in his own abilities? Had he became complacent during those 30 plus years of peace? Scripture doesn’t tell us why this change in Asa. All we know for sure is that when he was in trouble this time he relied on man (King Aram) for help. So we know something in the heart of Asa had changed. King Asa did not win this battle. God was displeased.

2 Chron 16:7 tells us “…Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.” Hanani goes on to remind Asa of the time he has sought the Lord in war and God has answered." and then says “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars” (16:9)

I don’t know about you but I like happy endings. Unfortunately King Asa didn’t finish well. He did not have a happy ending to his life. At this point King Asa could have fallen before the Lord in humility and confessed that he had sinned against God. But King Asa did not. Instead he became angry and put the seer in prison. Scripture says he was “Enraged”. He was so upset that not only did he take his anger out on the seer but he also oppressed some of the people. (16:10-11)

Because of King Asa’s actions God choose to give him a disease of his feet. 2 Chronicles says in 16:12 that the disease was severe but even in this King Asa did not seek the Lord. Instead he choose to put his trust in the physicians. Two years later King Asa would die. 

As I look at King Asa’s life I wonder about my own walk on this earth. Do I seek God’s council or man’s? Who do I most often put my trust in? My dear sisters I don’t know about you but I want to finish well. I want to come to the end of my life and know that I have finished my race. I want to know that I have ran it with endurance. (Heb 12:1) I do not want to be one that shrinks back but one that has faith to preserve. (Heb:35-39)

How can I persevere to the end? I am sure my list is NOT exhaustive but this is what came to my mind as I was reflecting on Asa’s poor finish.

God wants a heart that is completely His. 2Chron16:9 God doesn’t want bits and pieces of our lives that we are willing to give Him, He wants access to all of our life. God wants someone who seeks Him and Him alone. Our whole life belongs to Him.

Our confidence must be in God. Hebrews chapter 10:35 says Therefore don’t throw your confidence away. But then what should we place our confidence in? Hebrew 10:1-34 tells us to place our confidence in Jesus Christ whose sacrifice is sufficient for us all. Our confidence is in the power of a living God who was raised from the dead.

We need endurance. We must understand that times in this life will be hard. We WILL have struggles, trials and temptations. When we face circumstances that seem impossible we need to persevere through it in the strength of Christ. We can not run to man (or woman) but we must run to God. (Heb. 10)

Remember past victories.  Hebrews 11 gives us a long list of those who persevered in their faith. We see men and women who faced unbelievable circumstances and yet they kept there faith in the God who would deliver them. Then in Heb. 12:1a we are told “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us…” Remember the pass victories of others and in your own life. Believe that if God worked things out before He is working things out now.

Lay aside this life. Hebrews 12:1b says “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” I think it’s fairly self explanatory and yet not always so easily done. But we must pursue a life that lives separated from things in this world. WE must stay away from those things or people that easily distract us and ends up getting us entangled in to sin. We must lay aside our selfish desires and press on toward a life that finishes well.

Oh Father help me to run my race with endurance. Help me to lay aside those things that keep me from running a good race. Show me those places in my heart that I have held from you. Father I desire to to run a race that is pleasing to You. I want a heart that is wholly yours, a heart that seeks you and you alone. And yet I am so weak. I give in so easily to my flesh!

“O LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength ; so help me, O LORD my God, for I trust in You” 2 Chron 14:11

A Word of Encouragement

I love it when the Word of God speaks into my heart with encouragement at just the time I need it. For months I have felt distant from God, a lack of passion to really seek Him. It’s been especially hard since I haven’t had a Bible Study or a person to study with.  You know, someone to help keep me accountable to be in the word. Someone to encourage me, listen to me process, and to just grow together. We all need that right?

Then I remembered the message God had given me at the beginning of the year. He gave me Psalm 24:4-5 which says "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord..." From this verse and various books He has had me read, I have come face to face with my idols. Like my tendency to run to people instead of God.

If I run to people instead of God I am saying I do not trust God. I am saying He alone isn’t enough. In essence I am telling God “I only need you if I can’t figure this out on my own”. I’ve even said “I just want/need Jesus with skin on!” While we understand the meaning of that phrase to mean sometimes God uses people to give a hug or a word at just the right time as if God Himself were doing it, it isn’t something He chooses to do all the time.

So what do you do when you are feeling like you need “Jesus with skin on” and He says “I am enough”? What happens when weeks and months go by without “feeling” His presence in a tangible way?

Here is what God showed me today. This is the truth from His very voice that was spoken to my heart.

"…LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength ; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You… 2 Chron 14:11

And this, “…the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” 2 Chron 15:2

And this, …"But you, be strong and do not lose courage , for there is reward for your work."… 2 Chron 15:7

 

As I read through 2 Chronicles I was reminded that my part is to seek the Lord. I am to seek Him with my whole heart. I am to purge the idols and rid my life of the things that distract me from spending time with Him. (2 Chron 15:5-16)

God sent Asariah to King Asa in Chapter 15 with a message from God. The way the king responded gives me much food for thought.

First, he received the message and took courage. In other words he didn’t need to think about it. He didn’t need to talk it over with anyone. He accepted it as truth.

Second, he removed all the idols. He heard from God, knew God was with him so then he acted. He did not whine or argue or think he had a better way. He just went to work doing what was needed.

Then he restored the altar. This is huge. When we begin removing the idols of our heart we must then replace the idols with truth. We must allow the sweet promises of God to be restored into our soul.

He gathered the people together. We do need community. I find it interesting that Asa only gathered the people after he removed the idol and restored the altar. Knowing God was with him he did what God required, then  he went to the people. When the people saw Asa they could tell that the Lord was with with him.(15:9b)

Does my community see God in me? A good question to ponder.

Finally, together with the community, they gave sacrifices to the Lord and entered into a covenant. Once Asa heard from the Lord and worked out that which needed to be done he entered a covenant. We do need those around us to help remind us of that which God has done and is doing. We need the community around us in order to rejoice together in what God is doing.

Asa had a prophet give him a message from the Lord. I have his word. I need to remember that God has already told me how I am to live and what I am to be. I do not need to go to others first, I need to go to God. I need to pursue the life God has for me. I am to SEEK Him, no one else.

Community comes after we have heard from God, and we’ve walked in obedience. We can not “gather the people” before we’ve allowed God to work in our own hearts. God does the work in our hearts not people.

What happens when we seek God with our whole heart? We find Him. What happens when we are obedient and removed the idols from our hearts? We have peace? Peace in this world? No, but we have peace in our soul and with God.

I love and get much encouragement from 2 Chron 15:17,

“But the high places (cultic platform, places of worship) were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa's heart was blameless all his days.” 2 Chron 15:17

There is so much more to learn about Asa, why not read it for yourself? His story is found in 2 Chron 14-16.