2 Chronicles 13:1-3 - In the eighteenth year of the reign of
Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His
mother's name was Maacah, a daughter
of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah went into battle with
a force of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a
battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.
When Rehoboam died…his son Abijah took the throne. His reign of three short years required him
to take a stand against the rebel Jeroboam…who had convinced the ten tribes of Israel
to part ways with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin…and establish their own
kingdom. Abijah is courageous as he faces Jeroboam’s enormous army…and is confident
in the rebuke he shouts to him before battle.
If we read 1 Kings 15:3….we are told that Abijah was an evil
king…the bad things he did far outweighing the good he accomplished in this one
battle. But this chapter highlights the good he had in his heart when he took
the throne…and the victory God gave him because he called on God for assistance.
What a great lesson in the power of positive thoughts in our
lives. When we feel the presence of God in our lives...and we allow him to
build courage and confidence in our hearts….we can go out with half the numbers
of the enemy…and come out victorious. When we dwell on the good we have done…and
put the mistakes of the past in the past where they belong…God can take that
good and multiply it like he did the humble lunch of a small boy…and feed
thousands of hungry souls gathered around us. (That story is recorded in Matthew
14….Mark 6…and John 6)
Satan wants to plant one small seed of negativity…and
whisper in our ear how tragic it is that we messed up. He wants us to believe that we are powerless
against our past…bound by the sin that Jesus died on the cross to free us from.
He does not want us to see the power we can have in our lives if we forget the
past and concentrate on the good God has promised us in Jeremiah 29:11.
God wants us to Highlight the good in our lives…and allow
his love to become a power so strong in our hearts …that it drives us to be
courageous and confident in the promises he has made to those who will believe
in his name. God wants us to stop speaking negative words that continue to tear
us down and prevent us from realizing his power…and speak the positive promises
he gave to us if we follow his commandments.
Father…thank you for reminding me this morning that my words
need to concentrate on the positive. Help me to release the mistakes and
negative thoughts that hold me back from realizing your great plan for my
future. Give me new thoughts that are
full of courage…and confidence in the power you have over evil in this
world. Give me a bold voice like Abijah…to
speak them when satan tries to whisper some negative thing in my ear …he knows
will weaken my faith. Amen.
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