The evil reign of Manasseh  penalized Judah with unthinkable havoc at the hands of the Babylonians. His self-serving lifestyle brought suffering on his descendants.

The righteousness of Christ brings blessing upon all who trust Him by faith. Our life affects those we love.

DAILY PRAYER:  THANK you Lord for the blessing and favor You impart. . Apart from You, we can do nothing good.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 24-5

King Josiah spent a good part of his life purging his kingdom of the idolatry and detestable practices of his father, Manasseh, and other evil kings.

Holiness is more an issue of what is removed rather than added.  The removal of lifestyle pollutants yields a simpler, purer and healthier existence.  It allows a greater focus on what’s truly important in life … loving God and one another.

DAILY PRAYER: Father in Heaven, put your finger on the things that need to go. I want the focus of my life to be on what pleases You.

DAILY READING: 2 Kings 21-3

The king of  Assyria threatened God’s people. King Hezekiah laid the threat before the Lord. God stated that the threat was insolence in his ears. He then sent his angel who killed 185,000 men of the enemy in one night.

The  enemy of our soul is likewise trying to discourage us from trusting God.  Try as he may, he knows he is defeated.  Don’t give in. Your deliverance is on the way.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Your hand of deliverance.  Heal us, protect us, save us by Your mighty power.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 19, 20

Today I fly to Ohio to celebrate my father’s 90th birthday.  I’m excited.

The Lord says if we honor our father and mother, we will have long life.  Dad did that.  He honored his parents.  Oh, and mom is 86 and she is outliving her siblings.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for Godly heritage.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 14-7

The best gifts God gives are in the lives of the ones you love.

Paul called the saints he served his joy and crown.

Plan meaningful activities and get-togethers with those you love this Christmas season.  It’s a wonderful time for relationship.  If you are away from family or feeling alone, find a service organization who needs help and give yourself away.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, You came to give us abundant life.  Thank You for filing our lives with family and friends to enjoy.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 11-3;  2 Cor. 13

Gruesome as it was, God accomplished retribution on Ahab and Jezebel through the reign of King Jehu to avenge the blood of His servants and prophets.  Men forget, but God doesn’t.  However, He reserves the right to administer judgement and vengeance in His way.

No one is as just, yet merciful as God.  He always knows “The rest of the story.”  We don’t.  Because He’s not willing that any perish, His method of resolving dispute is loving confrontation with our offenders to give mercy its chance.  James stated that God’s mercy always wins out over His judgement.  (James 2:13)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, forgive us for often taking matters into our own hands.  Teach us to trust You and Your methods of handling offenses and disputes.  You know all things.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 8-10

In reading 2 Kings 4-7, it’s apparent that God’s power for miraculous events was at Elisha’s disposal.  Unending oil to fill vessels, Naaman being healed of leprosy, the healing of the Shunamite’s son, the Syrian army fleeing for their lives because they thought they heard an army bearing down upon them … such were the amazing stories of supernatural occurrences in Elisha’s life.

Jesus also performed such miracles.  His power is available to us who believe in His name.  Could the key to seeing His power be in the difference between “hoping” and “believing?”

Let’s believe God.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we need Your miraculous power in our lives. We believe.  Help us overcome our unbelief.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 4-7

Elijah called down fire out of heaven by the power of God.  In contrast, the Apostle Paul gloried in his weaknesses and infirmities that the power of Christ might rest upon him.  In both cases, God’s mighty power was present in their lives to accomplish His purposes in the earth.

God’s power is available to you and me through His Holy Spirit.  Can our heart’s cry be that we would experience more of His power to transform us, heal us, deliver us, and guide us?

Just don’t call down fire out of heaven to consume 50 people.  LOL

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I need Your power in my life.  Set me free from sin, use me to witness to others of Your Kingdom, and let Your healing power flow through me as I pray in Jesus’ name.

DAILY READING:  2 Kings 1-3;  2 Cor. 12

As Paul justified his spiritual oversight to the Corinthian church, he identified his reaction when they were captive to a sin.  He described his burden as an inward burn, a distress and intense concern.  He was indignant.

Such is the way those in spiritual oversight are affected by the sin of their subordinates.  What do we do about it?  We pray.  Also, we remember his words to Timothy about how to address the sin. “The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle, apt to teach, instructing those that oppose themselves if peradventure God will grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.”  (2 Tim. 2:24-6)  “By long forebearing is the prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.”  (Pr.25:15)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, give us the grace to persevere in believing You to set free from sin those we love.

DAILY READING:  1 Kings 22;  2 Cor. 11

“We have the divine power,” says Paul in 2 Cor. 10:4, to decimate elements of spiritual opposition.

What are these elements in your life?  Lust, gluttony, cursing, slothfulness, selfishness etc.?  Be of good cheer, the Lord has given you the power in His name to destroy their hold on you or those you love.

Don’t give up.  It may take some time for the lit fuse to get to the powder supply, but when it does … “BAM!”  Bye Bye stronghold.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for the power You give us over sin and all strongholds.  We want to live lives that are unencumbered by hindrances so we can excel in pleasing You and accomplishing Your will.

DAILY READING:  1 Kings 20-1;  2 Cor. 10