II Kings 19:18 “and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.”
We are following on from the previous verse, the Assyrians have destroyed everything in their path to date, lands, cities, and now every false god is recognised for what it is.
There are seasons of life where there is an experience of loss, it’s tragic, it’s can be unbelievably painful, and it can seem too hard to bear at times. Yet, in the middle of those seasons, God is still at work. We have our own moments of revelation – when we realise that the only thing we can truly trust is the Lord and his word. Everything else is at best a distraction.
I think about the hundreds of thousands of people in those cities three thousand years ago who would have been crying out in hope to their false gods, offering desperate sacrifices, trying to hold on to what they thought was real.
Oh, friends, my prayer for us today is that as we draw close to God right now, we don’t experience any of these dark seasons on the soul. That we don’t allow anything to come in between us and our beautiful saviour. That our hope is firmly fixed on the rock of our salvation.
I’m prompted this morning to clear out any clutter right now, let go of any false hope, and position myself at his feet, humbly, trusting, penitent, and expect his touch of restoration, forgiveness, healing, and love to release me into being all that I can be for Him each day.
What about all those that are hanging on to their misplaced hope, crying out in their lostness today, just as others did four thousand years ago? My prayer is that God will break my heart for them, that my prayers for the lost will be ceaseless, and my life will be a well-lit signpost to Christ in all my words and actions each day that even one may be saved.
Let’s pray?
Father, please draw me back to my first love, help me to let go of anything that is a distraction. Forgive me please for all my sins, even those I am unaware of, and help me today to live totally abandoned to your love, your promises, and your ways, reaching out to others with all I have daily. Amen.
Principle of Change 59 – we need God’s help every day.
Strength – Learner – as we focus on the right core values we stay close to God every day.