Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Friday May 29, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of II Chronicles. Please read chapters 25-27 in your Bible or Click Here to read them.
https://www.allonlinebible.com/2%20Chronicles/25,1-27,last/25.html

Today's Message: A Perfect Heart
God wants to bless us with the things we desire, but He also wants us to seek and praise Him for them. We must have a perfect heart for God if we ever want to have what we desire and keep it.

After Joash was murdered by his servants, his son Amaziah became king of Judah, although he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord his heart was not entirely set on Him. "Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." (II Chronicles 25:1-2). We can be sure that even if we have the smallest portion of our heart off of God we will easily lose sight of Him. We must serve God with a perfect heart that loves and adores Him and all His commands.

Amaziah was determined to regain the territory that was left to his people in Edom, instead of trusting in God and seeking Him for guidance he hired soldiers from the northern kingdom to help him fight against them. A man of God came to him and warned him not to put his complete trust in Israel, but to seek God and He will lead them to victory. "But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. " (25:7-8). God has the power to help us through every situation, but the key is trusting in Him to lead us through. We need to seek Him first and ask Him to guide us in the way that we need to go and the most important thing is to remember to thank and praise Him for all things.

Amaziah was successful against the Edomites, but instead of praising God for the victory he brought out idols and began to worship them. "Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel." (25:14-16). An idol is more that just some image that one creates, it's a hobby, goal, person, career, or thing that takes the place of God. That possession becomes a god and soon the one and only True God is forgotten, which eventually ends with much suffering. This held true with Amaziah as he challenged the most powerful king of Israel and was defeated, not only did he lose the kingdom and all it's treasures he was murdered as well.

A perfect heart for God is one that seeks Him above all things for guidance, instruction, assistance, and answers. Of course we are going to make mistakes, but when we make them and turn to Him for help He will take care of us. It's not that God does not want us to have the things we desire, He wants us to seek Him for them and to give Him the glory for receving them. All the money, fame, or power in the world can not replace the blessings we rececive when we seek and praise God for our success and even our failures for all things work together for our own good and God's glory.

Today's Psalm: 101:2
"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
The perfect peace that You grant to the believer comes when our hearts and minds are one with Yours. Though we cannot avoid the strife around us we can experience perfect peace in our hearts as we meditate upon Your Holy Word which is the one thing You ask of us. Full devotion to You makes our spirit steady, trusting, and secure. You are the unchangeable God in a changeable society, so we hold onto Your steady all powerful Hand in the ups and downs of life so that we are prepared to handle all things that come our way. In Jesus' Name...........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night.
God Bless,
Christina