God has a way of outdoing even our most extravagant expectations. When you petition the Lord, you probably have a desired outcome already in mind, right? Sometimes our best intentions get in the way of really letting God bless us the way that He wants to. We're willing to settle for our limited ideas of what's best for us. As we'll see today, the king of Judah can't fathom how the Lord is going to lead them to victory over some great armies, let alone that they will come out of it with a multitude of riches. When you trust His infinite power, He will surprise you. God desires that you would be confident and assured of His protection and grace.

As a Christian becomes strong in their faith, as a church's members proclaim Jesus loudly, they draw more attention to themselves as representatives of the Lord. While that means that many people will hear the truth...the enemy will also draw nearer. Don't be surprised at spiritual warfare when it seems that the Lord's presence is becoming more known. The more effective you are as a believer, the more you will be under attack. As we'll hear today, Jehoshaphat makes some appointments that will honor the Lord, only to find that Judah is being attacked by vast armies. But, the Lord will assure him, and us, that the battle is His to win.

When you hear about some particularly horrible crimes, it can be hard to imagine that the perpetrator could ever come back from a life of darkness and evil. We tend to rank sins, especially when some sinful actions radiate outward and harm others. But, even those who seem hopelessly lost can find redemption through the Father. He does it for us all the time. We think we're in a comfortable place in our walks with Him, only to have our own transgressions inevitably come to light. In our study today, we'll see a king who had been seeking the Lord take a step away. The Lord knows it will go badly, but will offer grace when that king once again calls out to Him.

If you only want to serve your own needs and ego, then surround yourself with people that will always tell you what you want to hear. If you are seeking the Lord's leading, than you'll listen and obey even when it's the last thing you want to do. Sometimes standing up for the Lord will cost you, especially if you're going against the popular sentiment and speaking out for truth. As we'll see today, one lone prophet dares to speak the truth of the Lord even when he's advised to go along with what the king wants to hear. He knows it will be better for him if he plays along, but he never once hesitates to speak truth. His witness for the Lord is powerful because of it.

As believers, we may love those around us...from our family to our neighbors, to the stranger on the street...God calls us to show love to others. Of course, the KINDS of relationships we have with all of those people differ greatly. When you have the truth in common, another believer is closer to you than a non-believing parent. God's warning to us about being unequally yoked is clearly for our protection, not to stifle or bind us. He knows that if we're pursuing a relationship with someone who doesn't know the Lord, than that common ground of Jesus that should be a foundation....becomes a hole we can be trapped in.

A little encouragement goes a long way. You know how you feel when you've spent time teaching a kids' class at church, or organizing an outreach...and someone says 'thank you'? Although our efforts for the Lord shouldn't be self-seeking, it means a lot to know that your obedience is producing fruit. We want that encouragement, but we need to give it as well. Make a point to give a brother or sister a pat on the back when you see them using their life to honor the Lord through their work. As we'll hear today, Asa is so moved by the words and prophecy given to him about his labors for the Lord, that he makes even more of an effort to put Him first.

When things are going great, people like to give themselves the credit. When things are going badly, people reach out to God for help. It's the self-centered nature of the flesh, and even as believers we can fall prey to it. If you've ever witnessed to someone who has rejected the truth time and time again, only to be approached by them when something bad has happened...hopefully you responded with grace. It would be easy to fault a person for having no time for God when life was good...but we've all been there. It's that flesh again not wanting to own our faults. The person may even go back to their old life once things are calm...but they might stick with God, too.

If your heart is right with the Lord, then when you experience conviction...hopefully, you repent. If not, you may feel anger over being called out, whether by the Lord or someone else. This is why many unbelievers lash out when their sin is brought to light. Even when lovingly delivered, the messenger may receive accusations of being unloving, or too pious, or self-righteous. As we'll hear today in our study of 2 Chronicles, Asa will be angry at the messenger who brings his sin to light, and instead of repenting, he'll take out his frustration on others. In our own flesh, we make decisions that serve ourselves, even if it harms those around us.

Imagine you're making a list of things you'd like to accomplish in your life. You'd probably prioritize things according to how important, or how difficult, they might be. Learning how to play the piano wouldn't require as much effort as raising children. When we petition the Lord for His help, we tend to think He views our needs the same way, as if healing a serious illness would be more difficult for Him than relieving our discomfort from the flu. Nothing is too hard for the Lord, and we'll see how that fact plays out today for Judah. As the people are surrounded by enemies and strife, they will take comfort and have faith in the fact that their God is infinitely powerful.

If you grew up in a household with believers for parents, or had a grandparent or influential person in your life whose faith was evident and strong...what a blessing. If you are a believer today and you didn't grow up in a Christian household...the Lord still found you. He makes Himself available to everyone, regardless of where they come from. But, even if you are surrounded by followers of Jesus, you have to make the decision for yourself. No one else can seek God for you. As we'll see today, the Lord makes it very clear that there are only two ways to go...if you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He'll forsake you.