Nancy Taylor Tate
How I appreciate daily Bible reading. Though sermons and teaching help to open God’s Word, we need to spend time in the Word itself, that it might become rooted within our hearts, life to our spirits, engrafted into our lives.
As I was reading my Bible the other day, I was so blessed by the progression I saw in 2 Chronicles 13, which was a special delight to me because it also confirmed how I often talk with the Lord. If you read this chapter, you’ll notice in verse 5 they position themselves on the basis of covenant, God’s promises, and their personal relationship with Him. In verse 10 they are not just talking about “God” but “our God.” Because of that, in verse 12 they are able to rest in the fact of His abiding presence, confident as they declare, “God himself is with us.”
Verses 13 and 14 show that they were in an impossible situation. The battle was before and behind them, yet because of their relationship with the Lord, they cried unto Him, and He moved on their behalf. Their focus was on the power of God, whether the battle against them was big or small, whether they were just a few or many — it did not matter to God. As they stood in the authority of His name, they entered into a rest. God moved on their behalf, bringing them into victory. The fear of the Lord came on those round about them as they saw God’s faithfulness and love toward those who put their trust in Him.
The Lord is calling today for those who will walk in right relationship with Him. As we do, there is a place of rest that we enter into that releases the intervention of God in our lives. How we need this level of anointing today on and through our lives! Not only that we might be blessed, but that God might move through our lives, drawing others to also come into this same relationship with Him.
Proverbs 8:17, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” God loves the whole world! Yet there is another dimension of love available to us, as we set our love on Him. May we understand the relationship God has made available to us and choose it every moment of every day, that we might grow ever closer to Him, becoming joined with Him in who He is and what He is doing today.
“Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.” Song of Solomon 7:11-12
“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” Proverbs 8:34-35
May we hear the upward call of God and respond with all our hearts! The Lord is faithful. Like my dad used to say, I too can say, “The next time the Lord lets me down will be the first.” He loves those who love Him. We may go through some hard places, but “the Lord is with you, while you be with Him.” If we will be with Him, He will be with us. “If you seek Him, He will be found of you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2