II Chronicles 32

II Chronicles 32Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart grew proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him. II Chronicles 32:24

Gove gave Hezekiah very great richesII Chronicles 32:29

Hezekiah succeeded in everything he undertook. II Chronicles 32:30

But God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heartII Chronicles 32:31

 

Lord, I do not ask for a great sign. I only ask that you give me success in all that I do within your will. I do not ask for riches. I do ask for sales and success for our authors. Please do not leave me! Please do not test me!

II Chronicles 32: 8-22

II Chronicles 32: 8-22There is a greater power with us than with him (our enemies). With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles. II Chronicles 32

King Hezekiah cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men. II Chronicles 32:20

So the Lord savedII Chronicles 32:22

 

Lord, you are our savior. You are the God of great power. You are the God who helps. I cry out to you now and ask that you remove those on the high court who do not fear you: who do not honor your Word, your commands, laws, and statutes. Replace those individuals with men and women who fear you and love your justice. 

II Chronicles 13

Be victorious in God

II Chronicles 13The Lord is our God. We have not forsaken him. II Chronicles 13:10

God is with us. He is our leader. II Chronicles 13:12

They were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the Lord. II Chronicles 13:14

At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam. II Chronicles 13:15

The men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers. II Chronicles 13:18

 

Lord, you are my God. You are with me. When I am attacked, I cry out to you. Help me to always rely on you for victory. Amen

II Chronicles 8

II Chronicles 8The Lord appeared to Solomon. II Chronicles 8:12

Men who knew the sea sailed to Ophir (India). II Chronicles 8:17

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

 

Lord, show me how asking for what you placed on my heart leads me to know you better. Please appear to me today. You know me. Help me to know you.  Amen.

II Chronicles 7

II Chronicles 7If my people will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their Wicked Ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive. II Chronicles 7:14

Fear the Lord, shun evil. This will bring health to your body. Proverbs 3:7-8

 

Lord, please helm me to remain humble and teachable. Help me to pray to you, seek only you. Help me to turn from my Wicked Ways and shun evil. Help me to hear you. Please forgive me of my sins. Amen

The Personality of God as found in Christ

Luke 2 - Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father

During his time on earth Jesus claimed that anyone who had seen him had seen the father. The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy and such a charge would be true and punishable by death if Jesus were nothing more than a man. But what if he was not? What if his claims to be the Son of God were true?

How often do friends comment that a son looks and acts like his dad? Or a nephew, his uncle? Family genes and traits are passed down. It requires a leap of faith to accept that Christ was and is the only son of God, but if he is then we can learn much about the personality of God by studying the man called Jesus.

We first see the traits of Jesus in Luke 2:46. “After three days his parents found him in the temple courts …”

God’s Personality: If Jesus is anything like his dad, then sometimes God hides and we must seek him. To seek passionately after God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. So, too, is God’s presence. But too often we look for God where we expect to find him: where we  last left him. It should not surprise us that God wanders, walks, and surprises us with a sudden appearance. The story of the Garden of Eden confirms God’s desire to stroll about and startle us.

Jesus’ parents found him in the temple built for him. If we are to find God, we must go to his place of worship, too.

“… sitting among the teachers, listening to them…”

God’s Personality: God sits and listens. Yes he’s God, almighty, and all knowing, but he takes time to sit and listen to our thoughts, opinions. He does not demand an audience. He is the audience.

“… asking them questions …”

God’s Personality: God asks questions. He desires to know what we think. He probes our heart and mind. Like any active audience participant God asks us what we think, feel, believe … and often his questions leave us uncomfortable.

” … everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers …”

God’s Personality: The more time we spend with God the more we are amazed at his understanding, wisdom and solutions to our problems. It is only in knowing God that we gain true knowledge and understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live.

“… and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

God’s Personality: As we grow closer to God we too will grow in wisdom and gain his favor.

This is the nature of God and the man called Jesus.