In 2 Chronicles 14:1-2  We are reminded that obedience will bring you peace, just as it does Asa. Ask God for a tender conscience and an obedient heart.

14:6  As we see all around us many are experiencing trouble times. Do you take the initiative during the peaceful times in your life to fortify your spirit with God’s truths? Ask The Lord to show you ways to grow, wether in a time of peace or war.

14:11. Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!

O Lord, on our own we are powerless against the forces of evil in our lives. We need You on our side! You are our source of victory. Help us to trust in You alone.

15:1-7 15 Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.  For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them.  But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him. “During those dark times, it was not safe to travel. Problems troubled the people of every land.  Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem.  But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.”

Our times are dark, Lord. It isn’t safe to travel for many. Problems trouble our countries on every hand. Many nations are at war. It is time for Your church to be strong and courageous. Breath on us Lord. Keep us close to Your side. For You are our strength, our reason for being.

16:2-4 For 35 years Asa has gone to The Lord for help in his battles. Now, in the 36th year of his reign, he chooses to rob the Lord’s treasury and form alliance instead.

Ask The Lord to keep you faithful to Him all your days.

16:7 7 At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.

Lord help us to understand that because we do not put our trust in You we miss our chance to destroy our enemies.

16:10 Sometimes the truth hurts. Asa becomes petulant and unteachable, throwing a prophet into prison and oppressing his people. Do you have trouble hearing someone say you are wrong? Talk to The Lord about it.

16:11-13 11 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. 13 So he died in the forty-first year of his reign.

Asa turns his back on The Lord and dies from his disease. Has anyone you know and love turned his or her back on The Lord? Intercede for that person. His or her life is at stake.

Titus 3:1-2 Pray for the influence of the Holy Spirit in your heart and in your speech so that you can deal respectfully with everyone, even with those whom you do not agree.

Psalm 97:10 10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his godly people
and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

Lord, increase my love for You and my hatred for evil (Romans 12:9)

Psalm 98:1-6 1 Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
His right hand has won a mighty victory;
his holy arm has shown his saving power!
2 The Lord has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!
3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy!
5 Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song,
6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

Lord, let my life be a joyful symphony before You.

Psalm 98:7-8 7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy

Lord, let me be as unreserved as nature, the sea, the earth, the rivers, the hills, in worshiping You.

Prayer for Israel

Today is Shavuot (Pentecost) here in Israel, and Israelis are celebrating with joy and thanksgiving.

However, this week started out for Israel with a big disappointment and, frankly, a question of “is this really, seriously happening?” Here’s the story…

A couple of months ago, PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced the soon-to-come unity government between Abbas’ Fatah and the terrorist organization Hamas, which has been ruling Gaza. 

Though there was some doubt regarding this actually happening, on Monday the unity government was sworn in.

Hamas, as you probably know, was established especially for war against Israel and its ultimate goal is Israel’s annihilation. It is recognized by the western world as a terrorist organization. Hamas leaders continue making threats against Israel and Israelis, swearing to continue Jihad (holy war) against us until we are erased from the map. To his defense, Abbas said the new government will follow his path of seeking peace with Israel. If anyone was inclined to believe this, Hamas statements that followed promised continuation of armed resistance against Israel.

Naturally, PM Netanyahu announced that Israel does not recognize this new government, and will not be involved in any negotiations with the government. Netanyahu also called on the entire world to follow Israel’s path and not recognize PA’s unity government. 

And then came the shock…

In a completely bizzare move, an announcement came out of the White House. U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration said it plans to work with and fund the new Palestinian unity government.

PRAY for supernatural protection of our borders, our military and our civilians. There has been an increase already of attempted attacks on Israel.

PRAY for wisdom for our leaders as they are seeking the best way to tackle this new situation.

PRAY for western world leaders to see through the facade of Abbas and that of Hamas, and reverse their decision to work with the new government.

PRAY for all terror attacks being initiated against Israel and Israelis to be thwarted.