Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 20, 2022: SOAP #4612: 2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

SCRIPTURE: 2Chronicles (NIV) 31:21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so, he prospered.
James (NIV) 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

OBSERVATION:  The success of Hezekiah was preceded by his trusting and obeying the Lord.  He set himself to know God and work “wholeheartedly.”  Of course, God made him succeed! 

Here in the book of James we the same progressions.  Resisting the devil is preceded by submitting to God.  Desiring God to come near is preceded by coming near to God.  Being lifted up by God is preceded by humbling oneself.

APPLICATION: Like Hezekiah, I want to be a person who is attractive to God.  I want to be a person God likes to bless.  I want to be doing those things that God wants to bless.  I want to be involved in the Father’s favorite activities. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, work in me, forming me into the image of Jesus, the Father’s favorite Son.  Make me a son the Father wants to bless.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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