DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018 AN UNSTABLE HEART TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 16:7-14

DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018

AN UNSTABLE HEART

TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 16:7-14

Key Verse: “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12)_

Attitude is the key with which to unlock either the door of success or failure. It is one of the fundamental issues on the way to success as it can make or mar one’s chances of success. Whereas a positive attitude attracts God’s pleasure, a negative attitude courts His displeasure.

King Asa had trusted in God when threatened by the massive force that came up from Ethopians and had success story. But with regards to the threat that came from Baasha, he lost faith in God’s help and instead trusted in his wealth to buy help from the Syrians. Because of this loss of faith in God, the word of God came to him through Hanani that he would have war the rest of his life. Rather than being penitent, he became angry and imprisoned the prophet. King Asa further manifested lack of trust in God by consulting physicians for healing. This terrible attitude towards God severed the once robust relationship that earned him victories.

There is the need to ponder over our relationship. When a backslider refuses to hear the truth, he develops a hardened heart and retaliate against those who bring the message of God to him. It was not wrong to seek for physicians, but when healing power was available from God, he should have given it preference. For present day saints, we must search our hearts and ask: “Am I still in close relationship with God?” If the answer in not in the affirmative, then we must retrace our steps. God must always occupy the first place in our hearts at all times.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Pride is the midwife of utter destruction
COVER to COVER: RUTH.

PONDER: Symptoms of Unstable Heart
1. At the beginning he had a penitent and trusting heart which led to divine manifestations and success v8.
2. Later, self confidence came in thinking he was matured and wise enough to know what to do when challenges come v2,3. Self management.
3. Nonchalant attitude towards some clear biblical instructions. In this case he made affinity with friendly enemy v7.
4. Deliberately ignoring and resisting rebukes from God sent men of God. Pride. v10.
5. Arrogance and loss of respect towards fellow believers v10.
6. Extreme behaviour is to deliberately and angrily look for alternatives to God solution to our problems v12.
7. What always follow are destruction and shame when there is no repentance v12.
8. Full and continuous trust in God is a litmus test for a right attitude before God.

HYMN: All your anxiety, all your care
All Your Anxiety (GHS 1)

1. Is there a heart o’erbound by sorrow?
Is there a life weighed down by care?
Come to the cross, each burden bearing;
All your anxiety—leave it there.

Refrain:
All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there,
Never a burden He cannot bear,
Never a friend like Jesus!

2. No other friend so swift to help you,
No other friend so quick to hear,
No other place to leave your burden,
No other one to hear your prayer.

3. Come then at once; delay no longer!
Heed His entreaty kind and sweet,
You need not fear a disappointment;
You shall find peace at the mercy seat.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, search my heart and remove every form of symptoms of unstable heart.
2. Lord, give me power and grace to end my life well.
3. Lord, show yourself strong and mighty in every situation of my life.
4. Pray for mercy and restoration for those leaders in the church whose hearts have departed from the Lord.