Devotional and Bible Reading Plan
As many of you know our world is in turmoil right now. Every day we seem to hear worse and worse news. Many of us are worried about our families, our country, and our community. Many of our own church members are elderly and have health conditions that make this pandemic even scarier.
So how does a Christian respond to this pandemic? Does a follower of Jesus act differently than a normal person? How do we find hope when the media is constantly spewing out fearful messages?
Well I do not pretend to have all the answers but I do know who does. Jesus still is our source of hope. In order to tap into this source of hope and peace we need to go to prayer. Let me share with you a rather obscure story out of 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat had just received some devastating news. An army of his enemies had assembled to come destroy the kingdom of Judah. To make matters worse, it actually wasn’t just one army but three! The news was absolutely overwhelming to King Jehosaphat. There was no way that his kingdom could stand against three. It was likely that he and his entire family would die.
But the story does not end there. That’s actually just the beginning. Jehoshaphat makes a key decision when faced with fear. He goes straight to prayer.
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,[a] came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,[b] from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. – 2 Chronicles 20:1-4
Just like Jehoshaphat, we find ourselves in a fearful situation. But Jehoshaphat knew what to do with his fear. He went straight to God. He began fasting and praying and “set his face to seek the Lord” (verse 3).
Here’s what I’m really trying to say: Turn to prayer in the midst of fear.
We don’t have to pretend like we are unafraid. Maybe you are scared. Maybe you have an underlying condition or you are worried about your family. Let’s turn our face to God! He is our hope and he will guide us.
Will you follow along with your church family and this reading plan? I’ve also included a few prayer points at the bottom of the reading plan.
Blessings,
Paul Bush
Associate Pastor
So how does a Christian respond to this pandemic? Does a follower of Jesus act differently than a normal person? How do we find hope when the media is constantly spewing out fearful messages?
Well I do not pretend to have all the answers but I do know who does. Jesus still is our source of hope. In order to tap into this source of hope and peace we need to go to prayer. Let me share with you a rather obscure story out of 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat had just received some devastating news. An army of his enemies had assembled to come destroy the kingdom of Judah. To make matters worse, it actually wasn’t just one army but three! The news was absolutely overwhelming to King Jehosaphat. There was no way that his kingdom could stand against three. It was likely that he and his entire family would die.
But the story does not end there. That’s actually just the beginning. Jehoshaphat makes a key decision when faced with fear. He goes straight to prayer.
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,[a] came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,[b] from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. – 2 Chronicles 20:1-4
Just like Jehoshaphat, we find ourselves in a fearful situation. But Jehoshaphat knew what to do with his fear. He went straight to God. He began fasting and praying and “set his face to seek the Lord” (verse 3).
Here’s what I’m really trying to say: Turn to prayer in the midst of fear.
We don’t have to pretend like we are unafraid. Maybe you are scared. Maybe you have an underlying condition or you are worried about your family. Let’s turn our face to God! He is our hope and he will guide us.
Will you follow along with your church family and this reading plan? I’ve also included a few prayer points at the bottom of the reading plan.
Blessings,
Paul Bush
Associate Pastor
Posted in Coronavirus Updates
1 Comment
Thank you Paul for the very uplifting devotion.