2 Chronicles 12:14 Amplified says, “…because he did not set his heart to seek (inquire of, yearn for) the Lord with all his desire.” When I read this I thought back to A. W. Tozer’s book, “Pursuit of God.” His prayers at the end of the chapters captured my heart. He would pray something like this. ‘I desire to desire You. I long to long for You. I yearn to yearn for You.’ I encourage you to taste those words on your lips.

Rehoboam had a grandson named Asa. He started out well. 2 Chronicles 14:2 says, “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” He had an army of 580,000. The enemy army had a million men and three hundred chariots. Verse 8. 

Here’s Asa’s humility. Verse 11 says, “And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power….” Humility acknowledges God’s power.

After king Rehoboam established his kingdom, he and all Israel forsook the law of the Lord. The king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem because they had transgressed against the Lord. 

In 2 Chronicles 12:5 the Lord indicted the children of Israel with these words, “…You have forsaken Me…” In verse six they humbled themselves. In verse 7 it says that the Lord saw their humility and did not destroy them.

Then He gave them a test. Verse 8 says, “Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.” Verse 12 says of king Rehoboam, “When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord was turned from him.”

Stop a minute and take a deep breath. Verse 14 says, “And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.” Seeking the Lord requires a humble heart. It is not a one time event ~ it is a lifestyle.

Here is a great verse that I want us to focus on for a moment. Think of it in light of burying our emotional pain. Proverbs 10:17 in the Amplified says, “He who heeds instruction and correction is (not only himself) in the way of life (but also) is a way of life for others…” The first part is God’s way.

The second part reveals the consequences of self-effort. It says, “…And he who neglects or refuses reproof (not only himself) goes astray (but also) causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.”

We often bury emotional pain because we don’t want to forgive the one who hurt us. Yet Hebrews 12:15 clearly reveals the consequences ~ no grace. It says, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

Our life is either a way of life for others, or it is a path of ruin and defilement.

This morning I had to interrupt my exercises to write down something the Holy Spirit gave me. Emotional pain is a heavy weight. It impedes and keeps us bent over. The next part is actually a play on words: it keeps us from walking upright. I smiled. 

Upright is righteousness: conforming our thoughts, purpose, and actions to God’s will and ways. A few days ago we read that God’s way is perfect. Psalm 18:30. Verse 32 says, “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.” He uses our emotionally painful situations to lead us into His way ~ radically opposite of our self-effort to bury.

Proverbs 10:29 says, “The way of the Lord is strength for the upright…” Psalm 112:4 says, “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”

We need to throw off all our self-effort reactions to life’s stresses. We need to put on (embrace) God’s way through our stresses.

I often visit Luke 6:35 in my mind. It says, “…For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” This verse is like a mirror. Do we look into it and walk away unchanged? James 1:23-24. We are to observe, as in a mirror, God’s word as we read it to faithfully apply it to our lives.

Our body is the temple of the Lord. Hiding sin in our heart defiles our temple. We are no longer under sin’s obligation. Romans 6:21 asks us a heart question about our past before salvation. It says, “What fruit did you have then…?…” 

Verse 22 says, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness…” Fruit to holiness is succulent, juicy, inviting, and leaves the eaters wanting more of where it came from. Let us yield to the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives, that we might bear fruit that will bring God glory.

Metamorphosis. Inner change. Radical transformation. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

As children of a Loving Father, we are to reflect Him to those around us. We can only do that as we are yielded to the Holy Spirit. Let’s review the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. No self-effort can produce fruit that glorifies the Lord.

I want to view the fruit as though we are watching our actions and attitudes in a mirror. What evidence is there in your life of: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

What is your response when your will is crossed, a goal is blocked, your expectations are broken, or a myriad of other obstacles suddenly appear? Our fleshly reaction reveals who we are yielded to in the moment.

Self-effort thoughts derail us from His paths of righteousness. They take our focus off the Lord Who can do all things. They draw us into mental dialogues of trying to figure something out through any possibility. That is our way.

Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Self-effort is leaning on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5. Trust comes from a heart that is willing to wait, undergoing the metamorphosis needed to be who He created us to be and do.

All the caterpillar can think about is eating leaves…until. One day it seeks out a branch and spins a cocoon. Inside the caterpillar melts and God miraculously forms the butterfly. The old has passed away and the new emerges. The butterfly does not think at all like the caterpillar. At salvation, we pass from darkness to light. We are no longer controlled by the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians 2:3-4.

What happens when we wait for what we believe the Lord has told us? The maggots of our flesh feed on the hidden lies of self-effort.

1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts…”

1 Chronicles 29:17 says, “…I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness…” Verse 18 was David’s prayer that affects us today. It says, “…keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.” 

The Hebrew word for intent means form, framing, purpose, framework, and imagination. The Amplified says, “…keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the minds of Your people, and direct and establish their hearts towards You.”

Faith affirmations are based on the truths of God’s word. They are not a mantra that we repeat over and over. They are rock-solid truths that cannot be altered or changed in any way. We believe them. We speak them because we believe them just as Paul stated.

It is good to stop and listen to what you are thinking. When our thoughts do not line up with truth, we are set up to be derailed through a flesh-driven temptation. Does God provide? Through his obedience, Abraham learned an amazing lesson through a ram caught in thicket. He named the place The-Lord-Will-Provide. 

What is your need? Isiah 65:24 says, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Our needs are well known to the Lord. We have to be alert and now allow our flesh to derail us through our thoughts of self-effort. Do not bite that dangling bait ~ you will get hooked!

I was hemmed in. The fire truck was blocking my exit. I immediately started saying, “Jesus, You are my Rock. I stand in You and  I will not be shaken.” After a few minutes I could feel my heart rate even out, and my fast breathing returned to normal. 

When I think about standing in my Rock, I picture myself totally surrounded by the Lord. He is impenetrable, unconquerable, steadfast, and immoveable. I could not be more safe. In barnacle faith I cling to Him, knowing that nothing can pry me away.

Every temptation engages our flesh. Faith affirmations strengthen our inner man and weaken our flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed and therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak.”