TURN TO GOD FIRST
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
These words were spoken by a prophet of God named Hanani to the king of Judah, Asa. In 2 Chronicles 14:3 we read, “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” Asa brought spiritual reform to the nation.
Asa even received a word from another prophet telling him the Lord was with him when he was with the Lord. This prophet warned him that if he were to forsake the Lord, God would forsake him. (2 Chronicles 15:2-3)
During his reign Asa had many miracles of God’s protection and provision. But in his later years, when he was attacked Asa turned to the wicked king of Aram for help instead of trusting in the Lord God. This act of trusting in man instead of the Lord God is what brought the rebuke we read today.
The prophet Hanani gave both a promise and a rebuke. He reminded Asa, and us, that God is looking for people “whose hearts are fully committed to him.” God wants to bless and strengthen those who are fully committed to Him as their source of hope and life.
But for those who trust in human strength, resources, and abilities they will find themselves always struggling.
Being a follower of Jesus gives us a life full of delays, difficulties, detours, and dead ends. Daily we must decide where we will place our trust. Will we trust in our human logic, resources, or abilities? Are, will we always place our trust in the Lord God?
I have discovered that it can become very easy to trust in what I know and what I have done in the past. There are times I even think of a friend that I can lean on for help. There is nothing wrong with getting help from friends or learning from our past experiences. But the issue is where do we turn to first? Do I first turn to God and ask for Him to direct my thinking?
If I am fully committed to the Lord God then He is my first choice for direction, provision, and protection. He is where I go first to discover the steps, He desires me to take.
I’ve been preaching for over 50 years. When I am invited somewhere to speak the easy thing to do is think over a past message and recycle it. But I have decided I will first ask God what He wants me to say and then work from there.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to always turn to You first for daily direction, provision, and protection. You are my source of life.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”