July 1

During the reign of King Asa of Judah, Hanani told the King, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (II Chron-icles 16:9). Asa’s life is a good example of that truth. When we follow God with our whole hearts, God sees our obedience and blesses us. When we don’t follow God with our whole hearts, God sees our disobedience and removes His hand of blessing.
After generations of his ancestors before him had been very lukewarm, if not cold, in their walk with God, King Hezekiah of Judah, embarks upon a spiritual reform the likes of which had not taken place in a long time. The Bible says, “Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was successful” (II Chron.31:21). It is amazing what God can do through one person whose heart is totally sold out to Him. In the very first month of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the Temple and ordered the priests to purify themselves and the Temple of the Lord (II Chron. 29:1-11). The Bible says it took sixteen days to clean out the Temple (29:17). Now, what is meant is not that it took that long to sweep, dust, and mop the Temple. No, it took sixteen days to clear out all the pagan idols and images that previous generations had taken into the Temple of the Lord!
Paul writes in the New Testament that “God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13). During this revival that Hezekiah was orchestrating by his leadership and obedience to God, the Bible says, “God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them a strong desire to unite in obeying the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord” (II Chron.30:12). In other words, the people were ready. God’s people were starving for someone to give them the correct spiritual direction. It is thrilling to read about the impact that Hezekiah had on an entire nation of people. Why? Because he was willing to do the right thing. Because he boldly took his stand for the Lord.
Is it naive for us to think that God would do the same thing for anyone seriously seeking God’s will with their whole hearts today (Joshua 1:6-9)? Why don’t you be one who finds out?