Do you ever need strengthening in your journey of life? You wouldn't think someone whose heart is fully committed to God would need to be strengthened, would you? I mean those Christians that I look up to as steadfast and faithful...they don't ever seem to be in need of strengthening...they seem to be continually strong. But not me.
That's one of the reasons that I find encouragement in this verse...that even though fully committed, we can still need to be strengthened. Our hearts, no matter how far along we've gone in our journey of faith, still need God's superior strength to enable us to remain faithful during times of duress. And I'm just starting to think that even those who I view as never lacking in strength, have their own moments of weakness. But God's eyes are ranging the earth to see those who are in need of Him to come to their aid. We all have times when we feel the attack of the enemy.
That's actually the context of this verse. You see, Asa, the king of Judah, was being attacked by Baasha, the king of Israel. And rather than turning to God for His power, Asa made a pact with the king of Aram to help him defeat Baasha. Afterward, Asa was reprimanded by Hanani, who told him,
"Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war"
Asa was reminded that when he had relied on God, his powerful enemies had been defeated...because God is always ready to lend His power to those who are committed to Him. When we are attacked by the wiles of our enemy (by issues of pride, greed, lust, envy, etc.), we should be wise to turn quickly to God to seek His power, His aid, for any other source will keep us vulnerable, and we will remain at war within ourselves.
But when we recognize our enemy, and call on God as our defender, He is ready and waiting to come to our aid with His supernatural power. Don't you think He moves with the speed of light in response to a call of need from one of His children? I think that before the words leave their mouth, God is already working on behalf of those who are calling on Him.
Know that God is ready to fight for you...He is your defender...He will strengthen you when you commit your heart to Him. He is watching and He is ready. Rely on Him.
That's one of the reasons that I find encouragement in this verse...that even though fully committed, we can still need to be strengthened. Our hearts, no matter how far along we've gone in our journey of faith, still need God's superior strength to enable us to remain faithful during times of duress. And I'm just starting to think that even those who I view as never lacking in strength, have their own moments of weakness. But God's eyes are ranging the earth to see those who are in need of Him to come to their aid. We all have times when we feel the attack of the enemy.
That's actually the context of this verse. You see, Asa, the king of Judah, was being attacked by Baasha, the king of Israel. And rather than turning to God for His power, Asa made a pact with the king of Aram to help him defeat Baasha. Afterward, Asa was reprimanded by Hanani, who told him,
"Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war"
Asa was reminded that when he had relied on God, his powerful enemies had been defeated...because God is always ready to lend His power to those who are committed to Him. When we are attacked by the wiles of our enemy (by issues of pride, greed, lust, envy, etc.), we should be wise to turn quickly to God to seek His power, His aid, for any other source will keep us vulnerable, and we will remain at war within ourselves.
But when we recognize our enemy, and call on God as our defender, He is ready and waiting to come to our aid with His supernatural power. Don't you think He moves with the speed of light in response to a call of need from one of His children? I think that before the words leave their mouth, God is already working on behalf of those who are calling on Him.
Know that God is ready to fight for you...He is your defender...He will strengthen you when you commit your heart to Him. He is watching and He is ready. Rely on Him.
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