Be filled by grace and not by bitterness!

“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign, Asa died and rested with his ancestors.” 2nd Chronicles 16:12-13.

Asa, the son of Abijah, became the king of Judah between 913 BC to 869BC, and he did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the foreign altars and the high places. He destroyed the sacred stones and cut down the images and poles. When Cushite marched against him he prayed to the LORD for his help. He trusted and fully leaned on the power of the LORD God. The LORD helped him to strike down the Cushites and Libyans who had thousands and thousands more army and chariots.

Because of his devotion to the LORD God, Asa removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and the towns of Ephraim. He repaired the altar in LORD’s temple. His heart with fully devoted to the LORD. He worshipped and made covenants with the LORD. God gave him peace with no war until his 37th year of reign. Marvelous!

However, after the 36th year, he started leaning on his plans and agenda without involving God. Instead of continuing to rely on the LORD God who gave him victory and peace, in fear of Baasha, the king of Israel, he pleaded help from the king of Aram. He even took the silver and gold from the Lord’s temple and his palace to get the support of the king of Aram. The prophet of the LORD confronted him reminding the past victories and said, “Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen. Because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. Now you have done a foolish thing..” This is because of his reliance on the king of Aram for victory from the king of Israel.  2 Chronicles 16:8

Tragically, Asa got angry with the prophet who confronted him. He put him in prison. He also began oppressing some of the people. In the 39th year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. His disease was a severe one. However, he did not seek the LORD for his help. Instead, his trust was on the physicians. In the 41st year of his reign, he died and they buried him with spices, various perfumes. Made a huge fire in his honor.

Beloved, pray God to give a heart fully committed to him all through life. After beginning excellently, do you want to forsake your trust in God? No, may it never happen.  Verse 9 says this, “the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

When severe tests and suffering comes on your way, would you forsake your trust in the Lord? Bad experiences of life have the potential to make you bitter and resentful. It has the potential to abandon your first love and commitment to the Lord. Oh, I pray to increase my love, devotion, and commitment through it all. I pray the same for you as well, beloved.

Bitterness makes your situation, sufferings much worse than you imagine. Do not allow bitterness to grow up inside you to trouble you. Bitterness can corrupt you and others. Instead, you grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. When you rely on the LORD fully through your trials and sufferings, the LORD’s eye spot you accurately even in the remotest part of the world, and strengthen your hearts. The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to them whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I pray Lord to increase my trust and faith in you. Life gets harder and problems some times look scary. However, may my heart be fully relying on you in those times. Help to finish my race keeping my faith and trust in you, Lord. I know the power for such a life is in the name of your Son and my savior Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins and shortcomings. I accept him as my savior and Lord. Save me today and help me to be filled with your grace and not to develop in bitterness. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”