2 Kings 18-20

"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook."

Interesting how these "high places" came up in our conversation last night. We talked about how the other kings before Hezekiah (that also did what was "right in the eyes of the LORD") failed to destroy the idols at the high places.

I am reminded this morning that God desires our all and not just a part of us. Are there "high places" in our lives that we are not willing to let go of? I believe the other kings did not remove these places, because they have been around for a really long time. They have grown accustomed to people offering sacrifices in these high places. They had a heart for God, but held onto a sin that they probably did not realize as sin anymore.

We need to ask God for wisdom regarding the "high places" in our lives. Are there sins in our lives, however minor they may seem, that we've grown accustomed to? Are there ideas and attitudes we have about certain issues that are not Godly, but we are unwilling to let go of them because we've had them for so long?

It must have taken a lot of courage and trust for Hezekiah to completely destroy the high places. But we see how God blessed him because he did so.

It is scary how easily we can become set in our ways. We like to use excuses like, "Oh, this is just the way I am." And "Don't try to change me." Don't we hear that everywhere? When was the last time we said them, perhaps, not out loud but in our hearts?

Let's trust God this day. Let's not be set in our ways, but always be willing for God to change us for the better. God wants to perfect us to be more like Jesus. Let's give him our all, and not limit God by our stubbornness:)

2 Kings 15-17

"But they (the Israelites) would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, 'Do not do as they do,' and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do."

Chapter 17 talks about how Israelites were exiled because of their sin. And one phrase that really stood out to me was," They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless."

We hear about idols a lot. And we know that idols are anything that keep our eyes away from God. Ultimately, all of our biggest idol is simply ourselves and our pride. And from there it stems into so many other areas of our lives...

What does it mean to be worth something in this life? Our pride, with a full support from the world, tells us that we are worth something. Not just something, we are worth a lot. Just believe in ourselves. Do we find ourselves believing that? I think we all have at some point.

I think there's a major difference between being worth something to the world and being worth something to God. I believe we can very well be someone of great worth to this world by just being our natural selves. But that may very well make us worthless to God. We really need God's wisdom to help us discern which "worth" we are seeking with all the things we do and all the thoughts we have in our lives.

Let's encourage each other this day to be someone of worth to God. The only thing God requires is for us to give our hearts fully unto him. When we are willing to do that and make the choice to do so, God can use us in a great way:)

2 Kings 12-14

"Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence."

People of Israel keep going around in circles. This has been the case from the time of Moses (and even earlier). I remember sharing with you, when I was reading through the story of Moses, how frustrated I was at the Israelites for their inability to learn from their mistakes. They would sin, be punished, repent, praise God, and then go back sinning again not too long after. And I remember telling you the main reason I was so frustrated was because I am exactly like the Israelites.

But I was reminded this day that God knew all this. He told Moses that the Israelites would fall away from God after entering the land of Canaan. But God made a promise with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he will never leave his people. And we see God's compassion and mercy over and over again toward the Israelites in the old testament.

Another reminder this day. God knew of all our shortcomings when he sent Jesus to die for us, just as he knew that the Israelites would fall away from him. And in Jesus, we have a whole new covenant with God.

If we find ourselves today distressing over the sins we have committed (perhaps the same sins over and over again), don't be fooled in thinking that we cannot come before God anymore. There is nothing hidden from God. He knows our ways and even the way we are going to be. That is precisely why Jesus died for us. Let's repent of whatever sins that may be blocking our communication with God, call out the name of Jesus this day, and fully take hold of all his wonderful promises:)

2 Kings 9-11

"When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab's family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah."

Ahab was a king who did evil in the eyes of the LORD. There is a description of what Ahab was like in 1 Kings 21:25. "There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil int he eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel." God told Elijah, then, that he will bring disaster to Ahab's family in the days of his sons.

Reading the bible, to me, is very overwhelming at times, because the stories told are so unbelievable. There seem to be a pattern in the way God works. He speaks through his prophets, and events always happen according to his word. It is truly mind-boggling.

We can never truly understand the mind of God or the mysterious way he works. But one thing I know is that his word is real. These are not just incredible stories but recorded history. The coming of Jesus was , also, foretold through the old testament prophets. Not just his coming, but his death and resurrection, and how he will return once again. God's word will come true. They always do. It's pretty incredible.

I was just reminded this day, again, of God's sovereignty over all things. Let's remember that and make sure to put him in his rightful place in our hearts:)

2 Kings 6-8

"'Go, find out where he is,' the king (of Aram) ordered,' so I can send men and capture him.' The report came back; 'he is in Dothan.' Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. 'Oh, my lord, what shall we do?' the servant asked.

'Don't be afraid,' the prophet answered. 'those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'

And Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

I am so encouraged by this passage. It is just the thing I needed to hear, and God always speaks to us whenever we seek him.

Don't we feel like this so often? When our eyes are not on God, we allow the enemy to come into our lives, and one day we find ourselves completely trapped. We become fearful and doubtful that we will ever escape our current situation. We find ourselves giving in to the Devil's deceit, because our eyes have become closed toward God.

God reminded me this morning that when Jesus died and was resurrected, he has won the victory over all the forces of darkness in this world. And we can rest in the fact that whenever we feel that we are overcome by fear, that Jesus is far more powerful than anything that may be against us. All we need to do is ask God to open our eyes and take hold of that promise.

Let's not live in fear and defeat this day, but repent of our ways and lift up whatever is in our hearts that keeps us from experiencing the full grace of God. None of us will ever be in situations that God cannot overcome. We are completely victorious in Christ Jesus:)

Isaiah 15-17

"You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain."

This is part of what Isaiah prophesied against Damascus. It shows how everything we plan and labor will come to nothing if we don't do it for God. The bible says that we should study, eat, work, and do everything for God and his glory because that's why we were created. Once we start living for our own pleasure, success, and desires, God is going to be against us and make our life futile. Often times God cannot use us because we are too strong. We are so wise in our own eyes. God wants us to depend on him everyday, every moment in our life.

Let us make God our Savior, Rock, and fortress. We've been saying this so many times, but I think it's always a good reminder. God desires us more than anything in this world. Let us draw closer to God by trusting him wholeheartedly and laying down all our burdens and worries. And let us live this day for God and others through the power of the Holy Spirit.