Trust God Over Self

 Scripture:

“Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.””  ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭25:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

The Bible records that Amaziah did good, but that he didn’t follow the Lord wholeheartedly.  Later, in this verse, he had paid a hundred talents to each of the Israelite troops to fight.  The man of God told him not to go against them at this time and his reply was that he had already paid the men.  The man of God told him, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”  

Application:

Sometimes we make decisions on what we think and do things in our own flesh instead of relying on God and listening to His voice.  God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask, think, or even imagine, but we need to look to Him instead of trying to do everything ourselves.  I need to learn to trust God over trusting myself and doing what I think I can do instead of what God says I can do.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You over myself in every are of life.  You are incredible and it is an honor serving You.  Teach me to trust You more and more.  Help me to live a life of faith that impacts those around me and those around the world.  Show me Your ways and lead me on Your paths.  Let my decisions reflect Your will and Your will alone.

Your Son,

Jeff

To No One’s Regret

 Scripture:

“Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”     ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭21:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

This is one of the saddest epitaphs you will ever read.  When Jehoram died, it says he died, “to not one’s regret.”  Nobody regretted that fact that he had dies.  He was a king, but wasn’t even buried where the kings were buried.  This is such a sad statement, but many people end up there.

Application:

When you live a totally selfish life and don’t honor anyone else but yourself, nobody will miss you when you are gone.  We should live every day with the stark reality that we could die today or tomorrow.  When we die, we don’t want it to be to no one’s regret.  I want to live a life that will make people miss me when I’m gone.  I want to live generous and be a blessing to as many people as possible while I have life on this earth.  I don’t want to live a selfish life where nobody regrets my death.

Prayer:

Father, let my life count for you and your kingdom.  Let me make a difference in other people’s lives.  Help me to lead Your people well and let my life be a blessing.  Enable me to help more people every day. Let my life make a positive impact on everyone who knows me.  I give myself to You once again and ask You to work in my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Seek God First

 Scripture:

“But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.””  ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭18:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Jehoshaphat was asked by the king of Israel to go to war with him against an enemy.  Jehoshaphat told the king, “First seek the counsel of the Lord”.  They went and asked the prophets and they all said go for it.  Jehoshaphat had enough discernment to realize that the prophets were saying what he wanted them to say instead of what God was saying.  They finally found a prophet who was telling the truth.

Application:

The first thing I need to do in every decision of my life is to “first seek the counsel of the Lord.”  Before I step into anything new, I need to seek God’s counsel.  I have always longed to hear the voice of the Lord clearly so I can obey clearly.  I truly want to be led by the Spirit and not get entangled in things I’m not suppose to be doing.  I want to seek first the kingdom, and then let all the other things work out.

Prayer:

Father, as I start my Sabbatical, please help me to seek you first in all things.  Speak to me during this season and let me hear Your voice clearly.  I love You and want to serve you well in my generation.  Help me to always come to You first and foremost concerning everything.  I don’t ever want to make You look bad because of decisions I’ve made without Your input.

Yours Always and Forever,

Jeff

Rely on God to Fight Your Battles

 Scripture:

“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.””  ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭14:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

King Asa knew what to do when his enemies began to attack.  The first thing he does is tell the Lord there is no one like Him to help the powerless against the mighty.  He knew God could help the powerless defeat the mighty.  He then asked the Lord to help them and said they were relying on the Lord and not themselves.  Lastly he says that God is their God and asks God not to let mere mortals prevail against Him.  He told the Lord, “You are our God… don’t let mere mortals beat you.”

Application:

When the enemy tries to attack, we must be quick to call on the name of the Lord rather than try to defend ourselves.  It is God who fights our battles and defeats our enemies and not us.  We must come to the place where we rely on the Lord God instead of relying on ourselves.  Yes, He gives us wisdom, but our reliance must be on Him and Him alone.  Lastly, we must declare that we are his children and He is our God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to fully rely on You instead of trying to fight battles on my own.  You are my God and I will seek You every day.  Teach me to rely more heavily on You when battles come my way.  I am completely Yours without reservation.  You have proven Yourself to me over and over.

Your Son,

Jeff

Wisdom From God

 Scripture:

“All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.”    ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Solomon had asked the Lord for wisdom to lead God’s people well.  He received so much wisdom that the kings of all the earth began to come to him to learn.  It says here that all the kings of the earth sought audience with him because they wanted to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

Application:

God has all wisdom and can give all wisdom.  Our God is greater than any other entity.  His wisdom exceeds the heavens and brings great men to their knees.  When God gives you true wisdom from Him, world leaders will take note.  We should seek God’s wisdom as Solomon did.  When asked for anything he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead well.  I want to walk with the wise and demonstrate true godly wisdom.

Prayer:

Father, help me to know You better and better.  Teach me Your word.  Speak to me and show me how to live a wise life.  Show me Your ways and Your principles.  Empower me to lead Your people well and to extend Your kingdom throughout the earth.  Help me to be effective in doing what You want done.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Sacrifice

 Scripture:

“and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.”  ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Solomon had built the Temple of the Lord and was ready to bring the Ark of God’s presence to it from it’s resting place.  David had moved the ark a couple times and one of those was not successful   The final time David had it moved, he sacrifices a huge number of sacrifices to the Lord before transporting it.  Here it says they sacrificed so many that it could not be recorded or counted.  In the following chapter, at the dedication of the Temple, Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 20,000 sheep.  If those were counted and recorded, how many did he sacrifice in this instance?

Application:

Solomon understood that sacrifice was important to God.  Today, we don’t sacrifice animals because of the blood of Jesus, but the idea of sacrifice still exists in the New Testament.  Paul said he presented himself as a sacrifice to the Lord.  Rather than bringing goats and bulls, we offer our lives to the Lord.  We must live in such a way that God knows we are serious about Him and His ways.  No cost is too high for God.  Unlimited sacrifice is the life we give to the Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, I offer my life once again on the altar of sacrifice.  Let my dreams, desires and motives, be purified and let my will be sacrificed.  Let Your will be done in my life.  I desire more of You every day.  Help me to live a life of sacrifice.  Help me to live in the area of unlimited sacrifice.  You are worthy of my very best.  I lay my life on the your altar, for Your glory.  Your way forever.

Yours,

Jeff

Greatness Comes From God

 Scripture:

“Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.”  ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage Solomon is seen as increasing in his new role as king.  He is preparing for the construction of the Temple and before he starts, the offers 1,000 sacrifices to the Lord.  It is then that God asks him for whatever he wanted and Solomon chose wisdom to lead God’s people.  Just before all that, it tells us that Solomon established himself, but that God was with him and it was God that are Solomon exceedingly great.

Application:

We can, and should, move fro good to great.  We should do everything we do for the Lord with greatness because He is great, but when we really get down to it, it is the Lord that makes anything great.  Just like God made Solomon great, it is God who makes great people out of whoever will let Him work on them.  Our job is to offer Him our lives, His job is to make greatness.  We should pursue excellence and great things, but really it is not possible without the Lord.  We desperately need Him.  He is the definition of GREAT!

Prayer:

Father, You are amazingly great and I love You more each day.  You have blessed my life over and over again.  Help me to follow You well and to continually offer You my life.  You are great and greatly to be praised.  Let Your greatness be seen in my life.  I offer myself to You today and every day.  Let my life reflect Your glory.

Your Son,

Jeff