These are a few of our SOAP notes from today’s reading. We encourage you to read and journal on your own first, then join us in conversation about what God revealed to YOU today. Click HERE to go directly to the daily reading if you wish.
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Time | guest post
S~ In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images. 2 Chronicles 34:3 (NIV)
O~ Josiah, the king, was eight years old when he became king. So when he was 16, he began searching for God, the God of his ancestor David. When Josiah was 20, he started getting rid of all the idols in the area he was in charge of.
A~ Josiah was a king who was deemed as one who did right in the eyes of the Lord. The account of his early years gives me hope for my kids and the next generation of students.
At 16, he began seeking the Lord. At 20, he began doing something with his faith. From eight to 16 years old, what happened? Josiah’s mom was mentioned in the text, maybe she had much positivity and godly influence over him? His dad didn’t pursue God when he was king and was killed very early in his reign.
I need to just pause. My kids are fine. A life of faith does not happen over night. Seeking God is a process and takes time. That needs to happen before taking the next steps of faith.
P~ Father thank You for Josiah’s account of his faith in his early years. Please give my kids a heart to seek You. In every way that my kids try to seek peace, love, acceptance, happiness, joy, contentment, let them be unsettled if it’s not found in You alone! Please give them a heart to not settle for anything less than You and all of You! I love these kids you have given me and pray this in Jesus’ Name!
Look what He has done! – Robin Laney
S~ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV)
O~ Saul, a man who persecuted Jesus by killing his followers, was confronted by Jesus himself. He was struck blind, humbled, healed, changed and equipped for the sake of the Kingdom and used mightily in the spread of the Gospel. Made into a new creation, Paul realized that he was living proof of God’s great mercy and that there was purpose in his radical transformation. He shared his testimony so that others would see the great power of God and come to believe and follow Christ.
A~ I was given an opportunity to share my testimony of salvation and radical life change last week at our church. It was a bit nerve-wracking, at first, to consider standing before several hundred people and sharing some pieces of my past that once brought me great shame. I was nervous that I would mess up this opportunity by stumbling upon my words or leaving something important out. One thing that I was not concerned about was that people might think badly of me after hearing about my sinful past. I have come to appreciate that God can use that mess of a life I made for something good. When people look at my life now and consider where I have been, they see the amazing power of God to transform our lives and redeem our pasts. They can see that my identity is not defined by what I have done or where I have been but, instead, I am now identified by Who I belong to.
Paul’s testimony was a catalyst in my healing from the pain and shame of abortion and I, like him, want to tell of the great things God has done in my life so that others will come to know His great love and mercy, His transforming power, and the life-giving purpose He has for them.
P~ Lord, thank you that You would save even me and not only save me but also use me in such huge ways. I pray, Lord, that you would provide many opportunities for me to share what You have done in my life so that others would see Your greatness and would come to follow You. I pray that others would be willing to share their testimonies so that all might be saved.
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