(text and notes from the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale 1996)
When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the Temple of the LORD to pray.
(2 Kings 19:1)
Sennacherib, whose armies had captured all the fortified cities of Judah, sent a message to Hezekiah to surrender. Realizing the situation was hopeless, Hezekiah went to the Temple and prayed. God answered Hezekiah's prayer and delivered Judah by sending an army to attack the Assyrian camp, forcing Sennacherib to leave at once. Prayer should be our first response in any crisis. Don't wait until things are hopeless. Pray daily for his guidance. Our problems are God's opportunities.
----------------------------------------------------------
For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem, a group of survivors from Mount Zion. The passion of the LORD Almighty will make this happen!
(2 Kings 19:31)
As long as a tiny spark remains, a fire can be rekindled and fanned into a roaring blaze. Similarly, if just the smallest remnant of true believers retains the spark of faith, God can rebuild it into a strong nation. And if only a glimmer of faith remains in a heart, God can use it to restore blazing faith in that believer. If you feel that only a spark of faith remains in you, ask God to use it to rekindle a blazing fire of commitment to him.
------------------------------------------------
Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also take two hundred spearmen and seventy horsemen. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix."
(Acts 23;23,24)
The Roman commander ordered Paul sent to Caeserea. Jerusalem was the seat of Jewish government, but Caesarea was the Roman headquarters for the area. God works in amazing and amusing ways. There were infinite possibilities of ways God could use to get Paul to Caeserea, but he chose to use the Roman army to deliver Paul from his enemies. God's ways are not our ways. Ours are limited, his are not. Don't limit God by asking him to respond your way. When God intervenes, things will work out much better than you could ever anticipate.
-----------------------------------------------------
Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song.
Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.
O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.
O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
Praise his name with dancing,
accompanied by tambourine and harp.
For the LORD delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in his honor.
Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their mouths,
and a sharp sword in their hands -
to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with shackles
and their leaders with iron chains,
to execute the judgment written against them.
this is the glory of his faithful ones.
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 149)
-----------------------------------------
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his heavenly dwelling;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequalled greatness!
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him loud clanging of cymbals.
Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 150)
--------------------------------------------
Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.
(Proverbs 18:12)
--------------------------------------------
What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!
(Proverbs 18:13)
There are three basic principles for making sound decisions (as noted in Proverbs 18:13,15, 17):
1. Get the facts before answering,
2. be open to new ideas,
3. make sure you hear both sides of a story before judging.
All three principles center around seeking additional information. This is difficult work, but the only alternative is prejudice - judging before getting the facts.
No comments:
Post a Comment