Finishing Strong
Scripture: “In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet….went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.” 2 Kings 20:1 NKJV
Of all the fascinating events that we read about King Hezekiah’s life, I’ve always been impressed with our Lord telling him the exact balance of his years. (2 Kings 20:6) How would you feel if the omniscient God of the universe gave you the exact number of your days? Such specific communication is not overly mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Luke 12:20 cites the Lord’s stern report to His hearers about a “certain rich man” who was living presumptuously and rollin’ in the dough; yet God addressed him as “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?”
In the context of today’s scripture, the Babylonians preceded their Judean conquest by sending one of its princes to visit Hezekiah. He feigned friendship with the king; the latter unwittingly showed the prince all the treasures of the Judean kingdom! Later, Hezekiah’s entire nation would be totally subjected to Babylonian rule! While he took solace in knowing that the conquest would happen after he died, we have to wonder did Hezekiah significantly tone down his fervor in pursuing God after Isaiah’s prophesying of the nation’s dismal future? Let us commit to finishing strong—to practicing the disciplines of seeking our Lord in prayer, by daily repentance, for wisdom, direction, and guidance, no matter what the future may bring.
Our Lord wants His children to reflect often on whose glory are we living for! Are we remaining sensitive to His will and purpose for our daily lives? Or are we like good King Hezekiah—hearing from modern-day “ Isaiahs” about all the calamities that will befall earth’s inhabitants, and in some measure, God’s own people in subsequent generations—and yet becoming somewhat complacent, drawing solace from the thought, ‘Man, I sure hope I won’t be here for THAT!!’ Let us not fall back from our Savior’s warning to continue seeking, obeying, and relying upon God’s wisdom on a daily basis. (Rev. 22:10-12)
Prayer: Dear ABBA, throughout each day help me to resist a spirit of complacency, for such a spirit merely embraces a subtle and yet dangerous spirit of independence from the protection that accompanies a practiced dependency upon Your indwelling Presence. Thank You, in Jesus’ name; Amen!
(by Denise Diggs)
Of all the fascinating events that we read about King Hezekiah’s life, I’ve always been impressed with our Lord telling him the exact balance of his years. (2 Kings 20:6) How would you feel if the omniscient God of the universe gave you the exact number of your days? Such specific communication is not overly mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Luke 12:20 cites the Lord’s stern report to His hearers about a “certain rich man” who was living presumptuously and rollin’ in the dough; yet God addressed him as “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?”
In the context of today’s scripture, the Babylonians preceded their Judean conquest by sending one of its princes to visit Hezekiah. He feigned friendship with the king; the latter unwittingly showed the prince all the treasures of the Judean kingdom! Later, Hezekiah’s entire nation would be totally subjected to Babylonian rule! While he took solace in knowing that the conquest would happen after he died, we have to wonder did Hezekiah significantly tone down his fervor in pursuing God after Isaiah’s prophesying of the nation’s dismal future? Let us commit to finishing strong—to practicing the disciplines of seeking our Lord in prayer, by daily repentance, for wisdom, direction, and guidance, no matter what the future may bring.
Our Lord wants His children to reflect often on whose glory are we living for! Are we remaining sensitive to His will and purpose for our daily lives? Or are we like good King Hezekiah—hearing from modern-day “ Isaiahs” about all the calamities that will befall earth’s inhabitants, and in some measure, God’s own people in subsequent generations—and yet becoming somewhat complacent, drawing solace from the thought, ‘Man, I sure hope I won’t be here for THAT!!’ Let us not fall back from our Savior’s warning to continue seeking, obeying, and relying upon God’s wisdom on a daily basis. (Rev. 22:10-12)
Prayer: Dear ABBA, throughout each day help me to resist a spirit of complacency, for such a spirit merely embraces a subtle and yet dangerous spirit of independence from the protection that accompanies a practiced dependency upon Your indwelling Presence. Thank You, in Jesus’ name; Amen!
(by Denise Diggs)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
1 Comment
Awesome indeed.