“Are you all in, or are you all out?” In a culture of fence riding, this question brings definitiveness to the equation. Think of the last time you had to be either all in or all out of a situation. Elijah was sent by God to anoint new kings, and to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. In today’s verses, Elijah comes upon Elisha who was plowing the fields. The fact that Elisha had so many oxen indicates that Elisha had some measure of wealth. So, when Elijah throws his cloak around Elisha, he is in essence asking, “Are you all in?” The cloak or mantle represents Elijah transferring prophetic authority to Elisha. Hence the modern saying of passing the mantle gets its roots. When I assumed command of a squadron when I was in the Air Force, part of the change of command ceremony included the passing of the guidon (a small flag). It was the passing of authority from one to another. And in that case, it was done in front of the entire squadron, so everyone knew who was now in command. So, Elijah puts the cloak on Elisha and Elisha immediately leaves his oxen. This is the first indication that he is all in. He then tells Elijah that he wants to go kiss his parent’s goodbye. There are varying viewpoints on Elijah’s response of “Go back, what have I done to you.” It is generally agreed that his response was perhaps a test of commitment on Elisha’s part, or a granting of permission. In other words, who am I to tell you no? The important thing is that in the end, Elisha's response came down to one thing; “No turning back.” Elisha left the security of his job, family, and wealth, so that he could go with Elijah. There is a parallel that mirrors Christ’s command to Matthew; “Follow me.” And just like Elisha, Matthew gave up wealth and security for the sake of following Jesus. Our walk with Christ is no different. Just like a woman can’t be “sorta pregnant,” so too the Believer can’t be “sorta saved.” It’s an all-in proposition. Can the believer backslide? To be sure, but does that absolve us of our commitment to follow Him? Absolutely not. When we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and be our Lord and Savior, that proverbial mantle is placed upon our shoulders. Are you riding the fence of eternity or have you committed to not turning back?

Week 8
Main Point and Overview:   

There is no prophet in the Old Testament like Elijah. The “spirit of Elijah” is a Biblical concept describing a prophetic anointing of bold confrontation against evil, a call to deep repentance, and the restoration of relationships between generations (Malachi 4:5-6). It wasn’t until the coming of John the Baptizer that there was such a confrontational and committed prophet of the Lord again (Luke 1:17). Elijah was a man of great character and principle. He famously stood against 850 evil prophets all by himself, and God used his courage to “shift an entire nation’s worship” back to Yahweh. We need modern-day Eliijah’s. Men and women who are faithful to God and willing to confront the evils that encompass those they love. Whoever was going to follow Elijah had “big shoes to fill!” Thankfully, the power of the Gospel is not dependent upon individuals; it comes from God! While Elijah is a “type” of leader that we all need to be at some level, he is presently with the Lord. Who was going to “fill his shoes” then, and who will “fill his shoes” now? Enter Elisha. It was his time. In fact, God was about to do even more miracles through Elisha then he did through Elijah. How is that possible? The truth is that we have seen powerful and impactful leaders over different generations. Men like Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham have come, but they have also gone. Their impact for the Kingdom of God is unquestioned, but their time is also over. God is raising up “new” leaders to “do even more” for his honor and glory. You might wonder how that could be possible. It’s because the power of the Gospel was never about human strength. It’s not about ability; it’s about availability. Are you available to be used by God? Elisha was. Not only did he make himself available, but he was also desperate to be used by God in even greater ways than his mentor! He was desperate for God’s power! We MUST realize that every generation needs men and women who are going to selflessly commit to being God’s ambassadors of truth. Somewhat recently, John MacArthur went to be with the Lord. It’s really hard to imagine anyone coming after him with all that he has done for the kingdom, yet it is happening now. Will you be that type of person? It’s your time!

Up to this point in 2 Chronicles Jehoshaphat has made some bad choices as king. Finally, we see a turning point in his decisions as he inquires of the Lord. In this chapter we see the king desperate for God as the Moabite and Ammonite armies were coming for him and the people of Judah. The first thing Jehoshaphat did upon hearing the news was to seek God. He gathered the people and they went to the Lord in prayer. “...We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you,” (verse 12). The Lord answers by giving a revelation to a prophet in the crowd named Jahaziel. “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you,” (verse 17). Jehoshaphat encourages the people to have faith in the Lord and the prophets for the victory that's about to come! They prepare with singing, and once they get to the “battle ground”, they discover that the Moabites and Ammonites were already dead. They killed each other instead of coming for Judah! It says at this they praised the Lord and rejoiced! God also gave them SO much plunder from the army, it took three days to collect it all. God had said they wouldn’t have to fight this battle. It was God’s battle to fight; they just needed to trust Him!

We all have moments in our lives (or soon will) where we are desperate for God. Maybe you share a similar prayer like king Jehoshaphat, where you don’t know what to do…but that you are looking to God for answers. The men in the army were singing this into battle, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever,” (verse 21). They were quoting Psalm 136, which literally concludes every single verse with “his love endures forever,” throughout the entire psalm - check it out! The point is this, they were praising while heading into battle. What about you? When desperate for God, are you reminding yourself of his goodness like this army did? They were quoting scripture, they were seeking God, and they were doing so while approaching their enemies. We can do the same! Before the hardship or uncertainty comes will God find us faithful? If your answer to this is no, just look at Jehoshaphat. He had plenty of moments leading up to this that he wasn’t listening to God. YET, God still had mercy on him and delivered his enemies into his hands. That means this: God is not holding your past against you. He wants us to move forward, trusting HIM for the battle. Recognize your desperation for God on a daily basis. Have faith when it’s hard. Trust when it’s overwhelming. Let go of control and let God fight your battles. You don’t fight alone.

As I prepared my heart to write this devotion, I wanted to share a personal experience of being teachable after a mistake. Hmm… which mistake would I use as an example? My mistakes are many, that list is lengthy. One thing that I can recall for certain are the times when I was NOT teachable. Those times that I allowed pride to take the throne of my life. Ugh, my entitlement, my foolishness, my down-right stupidity. Three reminders come to mind; James 4, 1 Peter 5 and Proverbs 3, is that God “opposes” the proud and gives grace to the humble. Oh friends, I have learned the hard way one too many times that when I’m in a fisticuffs with God, opposed to Him, that I am not going to win that one. My thick-skulled, strong-willed self is thankful that God gives grace to the humble and I’m even more grateful that God has shown that grace to me over and over again. Mistakes do not have to define us; they can become the classroom where wisdom is learned. 2 Chronicles 19:1–7 gives us a powerful picture of what happens when we are willing to listen, receive correction, and choose God’s wisdom instead of insisting on our own way.

Historically, King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a good king who sought God and brought spiritual reforms to the nation. Yet he made a serious mistake by forming an alliance with wicked King Ahab of Israel and going into battle with him. Ahab was killed, and Jehoshaphat returned safely to Jerusalem. Rather than allowing the king to continue without correction, God sent the prophet Jehu to confront him: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?” (2 Chronicles 19:2, NIV). Jehoshaphat could have become defensive or ignored the rebuke, but instead he continued pursuing God and worked to lead Judah back toward faithful obedience.

This passage reminds us that being teachable is a sign of strength, not weakness. Wisdom often comes through people God places in our lives to lovingly point out what we cannot see for ourselves. Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” Correction may sting our pride, but it can protect our future.

Jehoshaphat's experience teaches us that one poor decision does not require a lifetime of poor decisions. We can stop, listen, learn, and make a wiser choice the next time. Choosing God's way requires humility—acknowledging that our feelings, desires, and understanding are not always enough.

The power of wisdom is found in surrendering our way to God's way. When we become teachable, mistakes become opportunities for growth rather than permanent failures. God does not merely want to correct our behavior; He wants to transform our hearts so that our future choices reflect His wisdom. When we listen to godly correction and seek God's direction first, we can move forward wiser, stronger, and more faithful than before.

This passage drops us into a moment of intense tension and spiritual irony. King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah go into battle together, even though the prophet Micaiah has already warned that disaster is coming. What unfolds reveals both the futility of human schemes and the unstoppable sovereignty of God.

Ahab enters the battlefield with a plan. He disguises himself, hoping to outsmart the prophecy spoken against him. Jehoshaphat, meanwhile, goes into battle wearing his royal robes—visibly marked, exposed, and easily identifiable. The Aramean commanders immediately assume Jehoshaphat is Ahab and chase him. The text says Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him. God intervened, turning the attackers away.

This moment is striking. Jehoshaphat should not have been in this battle. He aligned himself with a wicked king, ignored prophetic warnings, and walked into danger. Yet when he cried out, God rescued him. Not because Jehoshaphat made wise choices, but because God is faithful even when His people are not.

Then comes the most sobering line: “But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the breastplate and the armor.” Ahab’s disguise, strategy, and self‑protection fail instantly. What he thought would hide him could not shield him from God’s word. A “random” arrow becomes the instrument of divine judgment.
This passage reminds us of two powerful truths.

First, God’s sovereignty overrules human strategy. Ahab tried to manipulate outcomes, but no disguise can hide us from God’s authority. When God speaks, His word stands. We can exhaust ourselves trying to control circumstances, but peace comes only when we surrender to His will.

Second, God’s mercy meets His people even in their missteps. Jehoshaphat made a foolish alliance, yet when he cried out, God responded. His rescue was not earned, it was grace. God does not abandon His children when they wander; He calls them back and protects them even in the consequences of their choices.

This passage invites us to examine where we may be “disguising” ourselves—trying to control outcomes, avoid conviction, or outrun God’s truth. It also reassures us that when we cry out, even from a place of compromise, God hears and responds with mercy.

There is a phrase that describes Jehoshaphat at this time of his life. Growing greater doesn’t mean you are growing wiser. As Jehoshaphat’s kingdom grew, fame grew, and his wealth and power grew, he was not growing wiser. Great blessings from God and yet he is using less godly wisdom. Jehoshaphat has been following God and rejecting idol worship in Judah. He has managed the conflict with Israel very well. He has sent prophets out across Judah to teach God’s word, fortified the border cities to keep King Ahab at bay, and let peace come to both Judah and Israel. Things were going well. God was blessing his efforts and then King Jehoshaphat made a grave mistake. A small concession with designs to help with the greater good of his country. This mistake is to visit and build an alliance with the evil King Ahab of Israel. King Jehoshaphat marries his son to Ahab’s daughter to strengthen the alliance, probably with thoughts of reuniting the country. All this was against God’s counsel.

Bad company rarely pulls you down all at once, it pulls you down one compromise at a time. Small compromises in my journey of faith will pull me away from God. These compromises often start with the questionable company we may keep. We may have long standing friendships that when you get together, compromises happen. Just this “one time” or “YOLO”, they will say as they tempt you to sin. You may think you are influencing them but more likely your standards are being revised downward.

King Jehoshaphat made small compromises that led to huge failures in his life and the country’s future. He would join Ahab in a futile war that would cost Ahab his life. When King Jehoshaphat died his oldest son took power and killed all his brothers. The marriage alliance with King Ahab’s daughter and Jehoshaphat’s son, produced idol worship across Judah. The company you keep can strengthen your character or slowly reshape it into a weaker state. Jehoshaphat’s compromises caused by the bad company he kept, caused all that was important to him to be hurt - His sons, his faith in God and his kingdom all was lost or suffered terrible harm as a direct result of ungodly choices. We can learn from this example and examine the good and bad relationships that we may have. The book of Psalms opens with this: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but delights in the law.” (ESV). When we were kids, our parents warned us about certain friends that were trouble. Looking back, we realize they were right. These “friends” often led us into trouble or wrongdoing. We must guard against those who occupy our time. Are they good influencers or troublemakers? “Do not be deceived: bad company ruins good morals,” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV). We know better, now we must act better and remove the bad influences in our lives. Take steps to limit the influence bad actors may have over your life. It’s your choice: wisdom or folly. Choose wisely.

I think the title of this devotional says everything we need, we need to teach people the Bible. All too often in the American Church we find it easy to invite people to church, now when I say easy I mean we are excited to invite friends and family to attend church with us. However, I challenge you with when is the last time you shared Biblical truth with them? More often than not we expect the leaders of the church to share with our friends and family. We see in today's scripture how people went to others to share the word! We see in verse 7-8 that Jehoshaphat made teaching God's word a priority by sending leaders throughout Judah. Notice how he sent them to the people, they didn't expect people to come to them. They knew the power of God and wanted others to know about him so much they invested in them. We are called to do the same, we need to take the word of God to others, we need to stand firm and be courageous when we have the opportunity to share truth.

As a believer I encourage you to find someone you can invest in. I know you are probably thinking, “what if I don't know the answer to a question, what if I mess up?” That is the enemy trying to stop you from advancing the Kingdom. So once again, who can you invest in? Our mission statement at Emmanuel is we exist to make passionate disciples! How can we all participate in making passionate disciples? By taking the gospel and Biblical truth to those around us. Take the next step, find someone to invest in, by doing so you are not just feeding into someone else, you will also be fed. We find in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The goal of teaching should not be just to know more about the Bible but to be equipped to live differently because of God’s word!

Everyone is on a Journey of Faith. We talk about it all the time. I preach about it all the time. It is literally one of our DNA values at Emmanuel. I recently had a conversation with a young man explaining that our relationship with God has plenty of “ups and downs.” What I mean is that sometimes we are living a faithful life to God and there is great blessing in that. Then, at other times we are living in disobedience to God and there is great struggle in that. Just recently, I found myself in a bit of a rut spiritually. Exhaustion and frustration were leading me to “take it out” on Tami. I knew it was wrong, but I was still doing it. What I needed was to be reminded that God is in control, and I can trust him. My kind and gracious wife reminded me of that important reality. Maybe you’re in a season of struggle like I have been, or maybe you’re in a season of success like King Jehoshaphat.

For the king of Judah, God was blessing his life! He chose to “rise above” the other evil kings and follow the Lord. In fact, he did so in his “early years.” In those formative years of leadership and development, Jehoshaphat was committed and connected to the glory of Jehovah God over the worship of worthless idols. He removed the “high places” (pagan altars) and the Asherah poles from Judah. He refused to be like his other predecessors, and God blessed him as a result. Consequently, reverence and respect for Jehovah God was at an “all-time high.” The people followed his leadership, and even the surrounding nations were filled with fear when considering potential attacks upon the Israelites. The Bible says that the king of Judah became “more and more powerful” as he “built forts and store cities in Judah.” God was blessing his people, and Jehoshaphat was the recipient of that blessing.

Maybe you’re the recipient of God’s blessings right now. Maybe he has even blessed you physically and financially. Maybe you feel like you are “on top of the world” in your life right now. There are a few things to consider: (1) How are you using those blessings to advance the Kingdom of God? (2) Do you have a healthy mindset as to the source of those blessings? (3) Are you willing to stay committed to what brought you those blessings? What you are going to find later about this popular king is that he made some “foolish decisions.” Remember how we began this devotional: WE ARE ALL ON A JOURNEY OF FAITH. That journey has its “ups and downs.” You’re not going to “live in the highs” forever. Challenges to your faithfulness are coming. How will you respond to them? How will you respond to your mistakes? Much of what defines the legacy of our lives is NOT what we accomplish but how we respond to our inevitable mistakes.

Over the years, I have seen a lot of people who have been blessed by God for a season only to eventually “throw it away” for a number of reasons. The temptation of pride sets in and shipwrecks their faith. The temptation of apathy sets in and dissolves their faith. The temptation of self-reliance sets in, and before you know it, they have drifted away from the mission. One of the main reasons that I shared my struggles with you early in the devotional is to remind you of the importance of perseverance. While it has been a challenging season in my life, I have no plans of giving up on God or the purpose he has called me to in this life. What I am trying to help you with is a “reality check.” Sometimes “things are going well” and a smile is on your face. At other times, the pressure is very real, and you are desperate for God’s strength. Enjoy the good times; persevere in the tough times. God is real and available in both. He is faithful.

Week 7
Main Point and Overview:   

There is not an example of Israel’s kings that embodies you and me more than King Jehoshaphat. He loved God. He wanted to honor God. At times, he did honor God. At other times, he made bad decisions. Does that seem relatable to you? Of course it does. As disciples of Jesus, we all want to honor God. At times, we succeed; at times we fail. The Bible described the king as a man who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” yet he was far from perfect. One of his greatest struggles revolved around evil alliances. He partnered with the evil King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom in war. He partnered with the evil King Ahaziah also of the Northern Kingdom in the development of “trading ships.” God was not pleased with either alliance. Maybe he was trying to reunite the kingdom, or he was swayed by peer pressure. Whatever the reason, he partnered with leaders who were openly dishonoring God. See your journey of faith as an “up and down” experience. Some days you are close to Jesus, and every word, thought, or action is aligned with holy living and Gospel mission. Other days you don’t feel or act like a Christian, or sometimes, even want to be one. You struggle with pride, sensuality, anger, or any one of a thousand sinful issues. You are making bad decisions. Then, the Holy Spirit brings conviction to your heart. What will you do with it? For King Jehoshaphat, he responded in humility instead of reacting in denial or opposition. This is the key to life. It’s not a question of IF you are going to “mess up,” it’s a matter of WHEN you are going to “mess up.” In these life-altering moments, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and impact through heart-led repentance. Instead of making matters worse when God convicted the king, Jehoshaphat quickly reversed course and honored God. What’s interesting about the king’s life is that it wasn’t like his blind spots went away after one mistake. They reared their “ugly little heads” again later on in life when he once again made a poor alliance. Here’s the lesson: it’s likely that you’re going to “repeat” the same sinful struggles. What should you do? Repent again. Then, repent again. Keep moving forward on your journey of faith knowing that until you reach heaven, it will be filled with “ups and downs.”

Do you want to be wise or do you want to be foolish? I think we’d all say we’d like to be wise..but what do our actions reveal? Proverbs is chucked full of wisdom for us. Proverbs is all about probability. If you apply the wisdom, the probability of it working is high. It doesn’t mean it WILL happen, but that it’s likely. Our scriptures for today remind us that wisdom can’t be achieved on our own. We must listen to wise counsel. Fools do what's right in their own eyes, but the wise surround themselves with people who push them to be better.

I remember when I was 18, I thought I knew best. I mean what teenager doesn't? I was now an “adult.” As if wisdom came with an age number. I moved out right at 18, got my own apartment, found “the love of my life,” only to end up heart broken and moving back in with my parents. Those who knew what was best for me warned me of my decisions, but I was too eager to do what I thought was best. My lack of regard for wise people in my life led to a road of destruction. In those years I lived for the world and all its pleasures and got caught up with some really bad people. I later regretted my decisions. I cried many tears and thought I had ruined my life.

Discipline is never fun, but it helps us grow. Proverbs 15:22, “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Yikes. If you hate yourself, you’ll ignore instruction. Let that sink in for a minute! It took me EIGHT YEARS to finally start listening to some Christians in my life who knew what was best for me. After eight years, I surrendered to fully live for the Lord and to stop living a double life. It wasn’t easy, but it’s brought more joy, peace, and purpose than I could have ever imagined for myself. If you’re a young adult reading this, I beg you, no URGE you, to please listen to the godly people in your life. The pain is coming if you don’t. You’ll look back and wish you had listened. The Lord disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). If you’re in a season of discipline, don’t be discouraged. It means you are on the road to growth. If you haven’t realized yet, the Bible is full of messy people who mostly didn’t listen to God. Their regret, sorrow, and consequences are all over scripture for us to learn from! But thank God we have a savior who doesn't give up on us. He disciplines us because He loves us and wants us to follow Him. He has our best interest in mind and wants to help us if we’ll just listen!

We must choose to act in the wisdom of the Lord! Ahab, king of Israel, was a wicked king who chose to not listen when the prophet of the Lord gave counsel on what was to happen if they went to war. He was told that if he were to go out in battle then the people would go home scattered and leaderless. The prophet had clearly shown him the king's own downfall but instead of listening, he had the prophet thrown into prison then just acted like a coward and tried to hide his identity. He thought he could hide from the sovereign will of God! I love how this passage tells us that he was killed by a soldier’s “random” arrow. God’s hand was at work, God’s hand was placing that arrow where it needed to be. Instead of being able to evade God’s ability and power, Ahab instead is able to show how powerful God really is! Ahab could have chosen to listen to the prophet. He could have chosen to heed the word of the Lord that had been spoken to him. But instead, he leans on his own understanding and will and pays the ultimate price. In our own lives we do this as well. For those who believe in the Lord, for us who truly understand his power, we sometimes willingly choose to go against what God has told us to do. We sometimes choose to sin! We choose to fall on our own sword, we choose to make a decision that we thought, well if we just hide, if we just do it quietly, then we will get away with it, and no one will know and it will not be a big deal. But then that “random” arrow comes and the consequences are sometimes bigger than we can handle! Christ wants you to follow Him! He wants you to choose to listen to His Word and unfortunately that is not how we always choose to live. When we choose to sin, there are consequences for our actions. Your sin will find you out. Ahab has a poor ending because he chose unwisely. Put your faith in an all-knowing, all-powerful God! Choose to listen to His Word and praise God for His grace and mercy to those who do turn themselves away from Him! Praise God for being one who went so far as to send His son for those who choose poorly. Praise God that there is more to our story than just a poor ending because we choose unwisely. Choose to follow God, because He chose to save you!

We witness a powerful moment where human strategy collides with sovereignty. King Ahab, despite receiving a clear warning from the prophet Micaiah, chooses to go into battle anyway. What stands out is not only his refusal to listen to God’s word but the way he attempts to maneuver around it.

Ahab disguises himself before entering the battle, while Jehoshaphat openly wears his royal robes. Ahab’s disguise is more than a tactical decision—it is a symbol of his belief that he can avoid the consequences of ignoring God. He hopes that by hiding his identity, he can hide from the truth spoken over him. But disguises may fool people; they never fool God.

As the battle unfolds, the enemy commanders initially chase Jehoshaphat, thinking he is Ahab. When they realize their mistake, they turn away. This moment highlights how human perception can be easily misled, yet God’s purposes remain steady. Then comes the striking detail in verse 34: “someone drew his bow at random.” The arrow wasn’t aimed with intention or strategy. It wasn’t part of a plan. Yet it found the exact vulnerable point in Ahab’s armor.

What appears random is anything but. It is a reminder that God’s sovereignty operates beyond human calculation. Ahab’s disguise, his avoidance, his attempts to outsmart the prophecy—all of it collapses in the face of a single arrow guided by divine purpose.
This passage reveals a truth that reaches into our own lives: ignoring God’s word does not make it powerless. Ahab heard God’s warning. He had the opportunity to respond, to turn, to reconsider. Instead, he chose to hide. But truth has a way of finding us, even when we think we’ve covered ourselves well.

God’s warnings are not meant to harm us; they are meant to protect us. His correction is an act of mercy, not restriction. Ahab’s downfall was not simply disobedience—it was the belief that he could navigate life on his own terms while avoiding the outcomes God had already revealed.

The “random arrow” reminds us that life is not random at all. God sees clearly, even when we try to conceal. His truth, when embraced, leads not to fear but to life.

“Sometimes the truth hurts”, is a phrase that many of us use on occasion. This phrase is often used in a jesting way but often reminds us that avoiding God’s will or common sense can hurt. It’s a sarcastic way of pointing out that “you should have known better”. We get set on a course of action and nothing seems to be able to change our minds. Our desires are allowed to override God’s will and direction for our lives. Aligning my desires with God’s will is always going to be a struggle. “I want what I want,” is the default setting for most of us. Learning to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit is key to pleasing God.

King Ahab had a desire to go to war with Syria to expand his kingdom. He gains the alliance of king Jehoshaphat of Judah to help his cause. King Jehoshaphat insists on asking God if He will bless this action. King Jehoshaphat isn’t buying the word of the 400 false prophets that King Ahab is using and requests another. King Ahab calls on the prophet Micaiah (who he hates because he never prophesies good things for King Ahab) to get a second opinion. Micaiah tells these kings that God has allowed Satan to put lies in the mouths of the 400 prophets. Micaiah says if you do this invasion, disaster will come of it. The kings ignore this wise counsel and go into battle. The army is defeated and King Ahab is killed.

King Ahab’s desire overloaded his ability to trust in God’s wisdom. King Ahab was determined to go his own way, and it cost him his life. “Sometimes the truth hurts” is a fitting prologue on King Ahab’s life. King Ahab constantly pursued his agenda with no regard to God’s will. King Ahab only looked to God to rubber stamp and bless his desires. Looked at God like an ATM machine and wanted to make withdrawals without any deposits. Maybe I treat my relationship with God the same way. Do I think of my relationship with Jesus as an insurance plan? He provides me with fire insurance and is there in case of an emergency. Is that how deep my relationship is? I cannot live my life like King Ahab and follow my desires without a thought about God’s will. My desires must be set aside in favor of God’s will. Wouldn’t it be better if the all-knowing God of the universe was setting the agenda for my life rather than my limited preferences and fleshly desires? Jesus tells me to focus on heavenly things rather than worldly things. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV). Where is your heart? Can you let God’s will dominate your desires? Let my focus be on the things of God not the things of this world. Jesus encouraged me to lean on the Holy Spirit. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you,” John 14:26 (ESV). I can trust in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. I can put my desires on a shelf in favor of God’s will.

We live in a world that has trained our brains to make us want what we want and unfortunately a lot of people will do whatever it takes to get it. Now you may have just read that and thought there is no way I am like that but we must be careful not to underestimate who we are listening to. As you read today's scripture passage, we find that Ahab had 400 prophets telling him exactly what he wanted to hear. They told him yes, go to war! They were confirming what he wanted, all too often we make a decision by ourselves. But when we ask for wisdom from others we truly are not asking for wisdom but seeking confirmation of the choice we made. We must be careful that we do not mistake others' agreement for God’s approval. Consensus is not confirmation!

If you know anything about me, you know that I am a huge Dr. Pepper fan (you may like it, I LOVE IT). Now with that being said I know drinking pop every day is not the healthiest thing to do. However, drinking Dr. Pepper zero sugar is healthier right!? Well, if we are being honest, it's still bad for me. These are little things in our lives that we can confirm what we want. If I substitute this for that it will make it better for me. Now if we are willing to do that with our health, how much more should we do this with everyday life and our Christian walk? We know we are doing something that does not line up to the way we are supposed to live, but we surround ourselves with people who tell us exactly what we want to hear. Maybe we know there is something in our lives that needs to be corrected, but instead of listening to the ones who call it out, we listen to those who confirm our actions.

We see in today's reading that the other prophets told Jehoshaphat that there was another prophet named Micaiah, but they hated him, his reason was because he never prophesied anything good about him. We read later that when others went looking for Micaiah, they told him others were telling the king this. So, I end this with a reminder, consensus is not confirmation! Take a moment right now and ask yourself the following question, “What am I being blinded to by confirming what I want to hear vs listening to what I need to hear?”

I find myself in moments all the time where the pressure is mounting. To be clear, I embrace the pressure. I expect that being a lead pastor, a husband, a father, and especially a Christian is going to bring unique challenges to my life. In these moments, I tend to panic and try to “make it happen” in my own strength. I wish it wasn’t true, but it definitely, at times, is. I’m just being transparent with you on this. Maybe you have the same struggle. Maybe you’re good at “rushing ahead” of God and getting yourself into difficult situations. My advice to you is to put into practice the mindset of King Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
I love that King Jehoshaphat, when faced with an important decision, told the king of Israel: “First seek the counsel of the Lord!” What if you and I took this approach as our first option!? In other words, instead of trying to figure things out in our own power, strength, and timing, we went to God first. Here are a few questions to consider that can help you out in difficult moments of decision-making: (1) What does God want me to do? (2) How will this honor and glorify God? (3) How can my decision either lead someone closer to Jesus or lead him or her to Jesus? (4) What are the spiritual ramifications of my decision, and how will it impact my testimony? What you can see is that I am putting my decision-making through the lens of God’s Will and not my own. Instead of “rushing ahead,” I stop, slow down, and take the time to ask God for his wisdom. This MUST be the priority of every disciple of Jesus!

When we took on the Ortonville campus a few months ago, we knew that there would be great financial and physical challenges. We are happy to say that we are presently in a “trust God” mode. We are seeing glimpses of what it’s going to be over time, and we are excited for what God is doing. We prayed over this opportunity, and we felt that God wanted us to move forward with the adoption. While we are not yet there, I am excited about where we are going. We just need to keep praying for God’s direction and wisdom. When we started our Grand Blanc campus, we were in a similar situation with a lot of “unknowns,” but we trusted God, and look at what he has done! It is always the best practice to “consult” God before you make a decision. Are you “consulting” God?
Many times in life, you’re not going to have the immediate answer or understanding of a situation. My advice to you: ALWAYS DEFAULT IN PRAYER BACK TO GOD! What does he want? How will he be glorified? What is my role in this particular situation? I can say with confidence that he is capable of leading you down the right path as long as you have the wisdom to do what King Jehoshaphat did!

Week 6
Main Point and Overview:   

How often do we look for people in our lives who will tell us what “we want to hear instead of what we need to hear?” The evil King Ahab is the “posterchild” for this kind of dysfunction in God’s Word. He always surrounded himself with “yes” men, and it greatly shows in our story for this week. When he had an insatiable desire, there was nothing that was going to sway him from pursuing it, including the truth. Ahab wasn’t a “man of God” in any way. He had surrounded himself with false prophets who were driven by their own lust for power and pleasure. When Jehoshaphat suggested that Ahab consult a true prophet of the Lord regarding war, he reluctantly mentioned Micaiah. Ahab was not eager to consult Micaiah because he always spoke the truth, sometimes in opposition to Ahab’s selfish agenda. Instead of being “teachable,” Ahab was stubborn and driven by his sensual desires. When Micaiah prophesied to Ahab that God would NOT give him a victory in his battle with Ramoth Gilead, Ahab reacted in anger instead of responding in wisdom. He put the prophet of the Lord in prison, and he continued his plans to take land that he believed belonged to Israel. Ultimately, he rejected the wisdom of the Lord because he was blinded by his own thirst for power and prosperity. How often are we blinded by our own desires that we reject the wisdom that has been given to us? Worse yet: how often do we “stack the deck” in our favor so that we will always get the answers that we want? Ahab was guilty of all of this. He proceeded against the will of God, and it cost him his life. He thought that he could “out scheme” the will of the Lord, and his plans failed. In the end, Ahab was like all of the other kings of Israel. He “did evil in the sight of the Lord,” and he would meet his consequences as a result. One of the biggest mistakes that we can ever make is to reject wise counsel. God has brought parents, pastors, mentors, coaches, etc. into our lives for a reason. Part of their life’s purpose is to lead us. Are we listening to them? Are we heeding their warnings? Are we applying their knowledge and wisdom to our everyday choices? Thank God for the people in your life that love you enough to tell you what you “need to hear!” The cost is high when we ignore them.

Wow! Chapter 18 is so POWERFUL! If you’ve been in the devotionals all week, you’ve read the entire chapter by now. To truly understand what’s going on in our verses today you have to read the entire chapter. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to pause your reading and do so before continuing.

Here we are at the end of the chapter. A LOT HAS HAPPENED. Elijah and the prophets of baal had each called on their god to see which one was real. Whichever animal sacrifice supernaturally caught on fire, would determine who the real god is. Elijah was in the minority. It was him (a prophet chosen by God) vs 850 (false) prophets. 1 to 850! Elijah trusted God was on his side and would reveal himself as the one true God to the people. Sure enough Elijah's sacrifice burns up. The people are amazed, shocked, and terrified all at once. Elijah has all the false prophets killed and now...a storm is coming. Elijah tells his servant to go look at the sky because there was heavy rain coming. The servant doesn’t see anything and possibly doesn’t believe him. After SEVEN times of going back to look, the servant saw the clouds forming and instructed Ahab to flee the vicinity. Elijah was a prophet. He knew the storm was coming before it was visible. He could have left King Ahab there to perish, but yet he was looking out for him. I’m so impressed by Elijah's courage in this chapter but also his compassion for his enemy. Can you imagine what a day this was? Supernatural fire sent down by almighty God. The slaying of 450 false prophets. And now a wicked storm, “Meanwhile the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling…” (1 Kings 18:45). Although it doesn’t say, it’s likely the storm was another sign from the Lord of his power and judgement.

God is so good. This was a “I told you so” moment for Elijah. He trusted God would reveal himself, even when he was outnumbered and looked foolish. God came through (as He always does) and the people were put in their place. I love how God reveals himself to doubters. If you’ve been keeping up with the news at all, you’ve seen how what seems to be the ark has been discovered in modern day Turkey! We are seeing another “I told you so” moment by God. I love what a man named Gold Mathias had to say about the discovery and it could be said of the people of Elijah's time as well:

“Many people say if God would just give us proof, then we’d believe. But God already came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. He performed miracles, fulfilled prophecy, died, rose again, and yet many still rejected Him and crucified Him. The greatest evidence has never been missing. The real question has always been whether the human heart is willing to believe.”

This is one of my favorite passages in scripture! The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is a great example of the power and goodness of God! It is similar to the story in my mind of David and Goliath. When we look at the odds, it seems that everything is against Elijah. There are so many more prophets of Baal than there is of God. It is 450 to 1! Elijah poured water on the altar to make it seem as if it would be even more difficult to light the fire. He does this in a time of famine which would probably make the people around him not very happy as well! It seems as if the odds are completely against Elijah but His faith in God reveals to him the truth. It is everyone else who has the odds stacked against them. Goliath is not the giant in the story of David, and the prophets are the ones who should be afraid when facing Elijah. God is on their side! God was with Elijah! Elijah knew exactly how this story was going to end. He knew that God was going to be there and had full faith and trust in Him. This is a kind of trust of God that I think even in Scripture we hardly see. This is why I love this story. Elijah’s faith is unshakable. He did not hesitate to challenge the other prophets. He did not hesitate when mocking them while they tried to call their god. He has no shame and no worry. To the point that he sees what they are doing as comical! He has no worries as he pours gallons of water on the altar. He knew, from the moment all of this started, that he was going to be victorious because Elijah is not fighting for a personal victory but for the victory of God! God is the giant in these stories, and He is the one fighting for those who follow Him. These kinds of passages are so encouraging to me because it is a good reminder of who our God is. He is a God who has been reliable and powerful for us since the beginning. Even in our own lives He promises to be there for us. He wants us to have this kind of faith in Him, but sometimes our faith is shaken! Have unshakable faith in God! Praise Him for all that He promises to do for us!

In this passage we witness a dramatic showdown brewing on Mount Carmel. The land of Israel has been parched by a three-year drought, a physical manifestation of their spiritual decay. When King Ahab finally meets the prophet Elijah, he throws an accusation, calling Elijah the “troubler of Israel.” But Elijah boldly corrects the narrative. It is not the prophet who brought ruin; it is the King and his family who abandoned God’s commands to worship the Baals.

Elijah then issues a challenge that cuts straight to the core of the nation’s spiritual crisis. He gathers the people and demands an answer to a piercing question: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.

This silence is profound. It was not a silence of awe, but of hesitation. The Israelites wanted the blessings of the true God, but they also wanted to indulge in the cultural and political conveniences of worshiping Baal. They tried to keep one foot in the Kingdom of God and the other in the world, refusing to commit to either. They were paralyzed by their desire to compromise.

We often find ourselves in that same silence. Wavering between two opinions rarely looks like choosing a wooden idol over God. Instead, it looks like divided loyalty. We split our devotion between Christ and our comfort, our faith and our ambition, God’s truth and society’s approval. We try to blend in while attempting to stand out for the kingdom of God.
Elijah’s message reminds us that faith demands a choice. God does not accept halfhearted devotion or a secondary place in our lives. Neutrality in the life of faith is itself a decision to turn away. God calls us out of the paralyzing middle ground and invites us into a commitment.

Today, the question echoes down from Mount Carmel into our own hearts. We cannot remain silent, nor can we walk two paths at once. If the Lord is God, He deserves our full undivided allegiance.

In this passage we witness a dramatic showdown brewing on Mount Carmel. The land of Israel has been parched by a three-year drought, a physical manifestation of their spiritual decay. When King Ahab finally meets the prophet Elijah, he throws an accusation, calling Elijah the “troubler of Israel.” But Elijah boldly corrects the narrative. It is not the prophet who brought ruin; it is the King and his family who abandoned God’s commands to worship the Baals.

Elijah then issues a challenge that cuts straight to the core of the nation’s spiritual crisis. He gathers the people and demands an answer to a piercing question: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

This silence is profound. It was not a silence of awe, but of hesitation. The Israelites wanted the blessings of the true God, but they also wanted to indulge in the cultural and political conveniences of worshiping Baal. They tried to keep one foot in the Kingdom of God and the other in the world, refusing to commit to either. They were paralyzed by their desire to compromise.

We often find ourselves in that same silence. Wavering between two opinions rarely looks like choosing a wooden idol over God. Instead, it looks like divided loyalty. We split our devotion between Christ and our comfort, our faith and our ambition, God’s truth and society’s approval. We try to blend in while attempting to stand out for the kingdom of God.
Elijah’s message reminds us that faith demands a choice. God does not accept halfhearted devotion or a secondary place in our lives. Neutrality in the life of faith is itself a decision to turn away. God calls us out of the paralyzing middle ground and invites us into a commitment.

Today, the question echoes down from Mount Carmel into our own hearts. We cannot remain silent, nor can we walk two paths at once. If the Lord is God, He deserves our full undivided allegiance.

Obadiah was in a difficult position. Obadiah loves the Lord but works for an evil king. Obadiah is the head of King Ahab’s household. A very dependable and trusted servant. This is interesting in that why would a king who follows idols and false gods, want a follower of the one true God to be his servant and closest advisor? King Ahab’s wife Jezebel was killing and persecuting God’s prophets. In this environment, Obadiah seems to be thriving. Here’s the deal, everyone prefers people that are trustworthy and honest. Kings or bosses, they all like trustworthy, honest, hard-working people. Maybe you have an ungodly work environment. I’m sure not as dramatically evil as Obadiah’s work environment was, but one that is hard to be a believer in. Notice that Obadiah didn’t change his ethics based on those around him. Obadiah kept serving God faithfully and serving the evil king faithfully. When King Ahab crossed God’s laws, Obadiah did his best to uphold God’s will. Obadiah hid 100 prophets of God, protecting them from Jezebel. This was in direct opposition to the commands of the King but upheld God’s commands. Obadiah saved them at great risk to his own life. There are going to be occasions in our lives where we will have to decide. Do I do what is right or flex my faith and do wrong to please those around me?

Elijah comes to Obadiah with a request that scares Obadiah to death. God has a message for King Ahab and Elijah needs to deliver it. If Obadiah tells the king he has seen Elijah (which the king had been searching for and has a reward out for his capture), and if Elijah doesn’t show Obadiah will be killed. In this fear we see that Obediah struggles just like us when difficult choices are to be made. Doing the right thing may cost me a relationship, job or promotion. Having the courage to make the right choice is hard but needs to come from a place of trust. I need to trust in God. Psalm 37:5 proclaims, “commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act” (ESV). I am to trust and let God figure out the details. There needs to be buy-in on my part. My journey of faith cannot be a weak faith that wanders around hoping God will intervene. I need to commit to growing spiritually. I need to pray and think about how I will handle difficult situations before they arise. Fear shouldn’t drive my response, but God’s wisdom should rule the day. Elijah reassured Obadiah that he would be there, that he was true to his word. God used Obediah to bring light to the darkness of an evil king. God can use you in a similar way. God uses faithful (not perfect) people to make an impact for those that don’t know Jesus. Standing up for what is right shows that there is a standard that God has set. Faithful courage impacts and draws people to Jesus. Will you commit to being faithful and obedient, no matter the cost? Pray for wisdom in difficult situations. Lean into God and trust him with all your heart.

Take a look around you, we can all make a long list of problems that are weighing us down. From not enough time to get every kid to practice or games, to financial hardships, to dealing with family. Struggles are always around us, but what if our struggles do not have to determine our faithfulness to God? All too often as humans we tend to focus so much on our struggles that sometimes we forget to remain faithful. Why is church attendance often the first thing to go from the schedule when schedules get crazy and take control of our lives? Or perhaps not giving to God when finances are tight yet living with “extra” things or wants. I write this not to shame but to really make us stop and understand there are always struggles around us. How do we allow it to reflect our faithfulness to God?

As we read in today's passage, we find that Obadiah was trying to follow God while surrounded by pressure and fear from a wicked King. Obadiah had risked his life by hiding God’s prophets and yet Elijah gave him another task. I Imagine Obadiah was afraid. However, we can learn a valuable lesson from him that being scared in our struggles does not mean you are not faithful. He knew what Ahab and Jezebel had done in the past and was worried what would happen to Elijah. Even in our lives all too often we let the past keep us from stepping out in faith and trusting God with the present and future. So, I ask you this question: When struggles hit do you remain faithful? Maybe you struggle with knowing how to remain faithful and that is okay. It starts with the character, who are you when no one is watching? Doing the right things is not going to eliminate fear or struggles, but they are going to allow us to remain faithful. When struggles surround us and we keep on doing what we are called to do, we are able to understand that God is still working, even though we may not see it. What looks like chaos to us, is nothing new to God.

Start today: What struggles are you letting control your faithfulness? How can you let go of them and give them fully to God?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Israel had been in a drought for quite some time. Because of her idolatry, God’s punishment had ravished the land leaving it barren while the animals were on the verge of extinction. How many times in our lives are we “spiritually dry” having gotten away from God? We make decisions in the moment that are outside the will of God, and we find ourselves reaping the consequences. It’s in these disobedient moments where we are either going to “humble out” and repent or “double down” and resist.

When I was a teenager, I remember my dad using a phrase that has always stuck with me. He told me: “John, don’t have a stick neck!” What he meant was that when you are confronted with truth, have a pliable heart to respond instead of a hardened heart to resist. Often, as an adolescent I thought I had “all the answers.” Except I didn’t. I needed Godly counsel in my life. I needed to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

King Ahab needed to humble himself out and repent, but instead he continued in his spiritual idolatry blaming everyone for his circumstances but himself. Even so, God had a plan for Israel. Despite Ahab and Jezebel’s evil leadership, God had raised up some faithful and courageous men to “stand in the gap” for Israel. Enter the prophet Elijah. He had been prophesying God’s doom upon Ahab for quite some time. Now, it was time for him to lead Israel back to obedient worship to Yahweh. Enter another faithful leader named Obadiah who strategically had hidden 100 prophets of the Lord in caves when Ahab and Jezebel were attempting to rid Israel of worship to God. He was in charge of the palace, and he used his position of leadership for the glory of God instead of the favor of men. He is an underrated hero in this story.

There are different seasons in life. Some seasons are meant for patiently waiting. The faithful of Israel had waited for rain for three years. That’s a long time to wait. In the process of waiting, there was frustration and struggle. No one wants to struggle. What we need to understand is that struggle is always the precursor to strength. This particular struggle was meant to remind Israel that only Yahweh is worthy of her full worship and praise. Only Yahweh is able to bring the rains (more on that in another devotional). Whatever your current struggle is, remember, God wants to refine you more into his image as you “wait for the rain.”

Then there are seasons of anticipation. The time for rain was coming. When God told Elijah to present himself to Ahab, there was definitely risk involved. The evil king had blamed the prophet of the Lord for the famine and drought, therefore, he was more than willing to kill him. One of the most important characteristics that a disciple of Jesus must have is courage. Elijah was a courageous leader. He was more than willing to confront evil. I wonder how willing are you and me to confront evil? This is where trust comes into play. If God puts you in a position to confront evil, will you be willing to do it? God was working in this situation, and he chose to use Elijah as his “front man.” It was a big-time moment that Elijah was willing to embrace. He was the aggressive and faithful prophet that the people of Israel so desperately needed.

In all of this, don’t forget about Obadiah. While he may have not been the “up front and boisterous leader,” he was just as important as Elijah. Behind the scenes, he was faithfully obeying God while strategically protecting the Lord’s prophets. We need both “Elijah’s” and “Obadiah’s.” Are you willing to trust the Lord while modeling one of these faithful men?
Ultimately, Israel and Ahab could have avoided so much pain if they would have had “pliable hearts” in repentance to God. Sadly, they did not, and God had to take drastic measures to get their attention. Thankfully, there were some faithful yet “different in personality” men who were willing to be bold enough to stand for the honor and glory of God! When it’s time to trust the Lord and “take a stand” for truth, will YOU BE FOUND FAITHFUL?

Week 5
Main Point and Overview:   

As the different kings ruled over Israel, there were prophets that God raised up to confront many of them. Elijah is the one who stands out the most! He was bold. He was brave. He was blameless. He truly loved the Lord God, and he stood for God’s glory alone. At this time in the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s history, there was a king named Ahab and a queen named Jezebel. They worshipped the false god Baal. In fact, in order to please his wife, Ahab even built a temple in honor of Baal thus promoting idolatry while leading the nation into sin. As a result, God was not pleased, and he caused the nation to experience a drought devastating the land. The end of this drought could not happen until Elijah chose it to be so, as he was God’s chosen vessel. So, for a season Elijah disappeared, making both Ahab and Jezebel even angrier. Then, one day God decided that it was time for Elijah to confront the evils of the king and queen. Can you imagine confronting someone in your life who is more influential and powerful than you? What we need to always realize is that true disciples are always in the “minority” when it comes to culture. The people around us who do not have Christ as their Lord and Savior are always going to choose popularity, prestige, pleasure, prosperity, etc. over eternal purpose. Elijah was seeing this firsthand, and it must have felt daunting, except when you are on the “Lord’s side,” you are the majority! Stop seeing your obstacles; start seeing your opportunities. Elijah was willing to be vulnerable as he challenged both the evil leaders and their exploited people. How would this turn out for Elijah? He simply did not worry about the “ending” while he was in the middle of his stand. Challenging the false prophets of Baal to show supernatural power, he exposed the superficial nature of their authority. Then, in a moment of true faith in God and compassion for the people, he prayed for the supernatural to significantly convince God’s people to come back to him, and it worked! Elijah is a model for all of us. He stood for truth and righteousness. He did not allow the majority to sway his beliefs. He impacted more people than he ever could have imagined because he fully trusted God. What about us? What “stand” is God calling you to take right now?

When I think of commitment, I think of marriage. It’s one of the biggest decisions in a person's life. When you said your vows to your husband or wife on your wedding day, you were committing to them for the rest of your life. We wear wedding rings to show our commitment. From that day forward, we are vowing to be faithful to our spouse. There’s nobody else up for grabs anymore, it’s you two forever. In sickness and health. The good times and bad. You become one on your wedding day. The same could (and should) be true of the Christian. When we are saved and baptized, we are committing to Jesus. Our allegiance is to Him from that day forward, and we are not ashamed of it. Sadly, we live in a broken sin infested world. Marriages aren’t always treated seriously and Christians don’t always commit to God after salvation. Our world treats commitment as optional. We see people leave their spouses. We see people abandoning their faith. What happened? Along the way, something or someone, took the place of our devotion. Someone more attractive came along. The world seemed more fun and entertaining, you name it.

We see through King Asa's leadership that he was committed to the Lord despite outside pressures. His grandmother was the “mother queen” in that day, but sadly her allegiance wasn’t to Jehovah God like her grandson. Instead, she was involved in Asherah worship. This worship was focused on the goddess of fertility and motherhood and was widely practiced in Cannan. The King's grandmother made an idol to this goddess, but Asa destroyed it! Talk about some family drama! This demonstration by King Asa symbolized a break from Canaanite religious practices. “Asas’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life,” did you catch that? FULL COMMITMENT! During his reign the land also had peace until his 35th year as King. 35 years of no war! Clearly, Asa did something right and the Lord blessed his obedience. I love that he stood up to his grandma, no matter the cost. It can be hard at times to follow through with our faith, especially if it costs us a relationship. Today as I write this devotional, the daily verse on the Bible app is Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Asa chose obedience and commitment to God over pleasing people. We must do the same! Just as you have committed to your spouse, how is your commitment to God going? Is someone or something in the way dividing your allegiance? Give it God. Ask for help. Pray for your faith to be true, raw, commitment as maybe it once was. Surround yourself with like-minded believers, listen to worship music, read your Bible, pray! Don’t let the idols of this world compete with your love for Jesus.

Worship the Lord wholeheartedly! Asa heard the word from the Lord and listened! He was told to seek the Lord, and he was willing to do so. Not only did he do so, but through his leadership so did the nation! He took what he had heard, heeded it in his heart, and decided to do whatever He needed to do in worship of the Lord. God calls us to worship him and what really sticks out to me about this passage is how his leadership inspired the nation. They saw that the Lord was with him and realized that this is a man of God that they can follow! The nation came behind him in trust for the Lord. In our own lives we have people that follow us. All of us, whether we want them to or not, have people who look up to us. We have people that will heed our example at work, at home, at church, and even at school. People are watching! People do see how you either put trust in God or in things that cannot bring peace and joy. As a parent, my children are some of the main people I have influence over. How I talk, how I react when I am angry or frustrated, what I allow myself to do or not do, all have an effect on them. No one is perfect and God does not call for us to be perfect, but we are to try our best to follow Him. Paul tells us to follow his example as he follows Christ. We all choose to follow someone. Who do you follow? Social media has even taken that term to use as we watch people for their content online. We “follow” or “subscribe” to people that we choose to follow. Who is it that you follow? Do you follow Christ as Asa does here in this passage? Take that extra step, bring your worship up to the next level, be someone who people can follow as you follow Christ!