245 - "Broken Alliances---Our Eyes Are On You" 2 Chronicles 19-20; 2 Corinthians 7

Jehoshaphat in full regal armor went to battle yet was protected by God.  
King Jehu who went disguised---who thought he was protected---an arrow slipped right into the joint of his armor.  You cannot outweigh outguess outdo our God.  Surrender and he will surround you.

Jehoshaphat was afraid. Like me.

He saw what he was up against. The impossible.
And he turned to God in prayer.  
May that be me, may it be you.

Standing in prayer.

"O Lord, are you not God in heaven? In your hand are power and might...
If disaster comes upon us----and it will,

the sword, judgment, pestilence, famine---

we will stand before You and cry out in our affliction 

and You will hear and save."  

2 Chron 20:9

"For we are powerless against this great horde

that is coming against us.

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

2 Chron 20:12

Wake up, o my soul. 

Someone called it "infinite pathos"----Make Room in your hearts, especially when grieved by offenses.  This is where doctrine hits rubber to the road.  I must find more room in the inn of my heart for each of you, and all whom I know.  

Jehoshaphat in full regal armor went to battle yet was protected by God.  
King Jehu who went disguised---who thought he was protected---an arrow slipped right into the joint of his armor.  You cannot outweigh outguess outdo our God.  Surrender and he will surround you.

Jehoshaphat was afraid. Like me.

Wake up, o my soul. 

"Live for your relational comfort, and your joy will be shallow and temporary.  It will not free you to love.  Live to know the truth of My Story of forgiving love, and you will be deeply unsettled by how profoundly you need forgiveness.  you will then suffer the slow death of your entitled demand that you be treated well.  But you will discover slowly burt surely, the power of My ongoing forgiveness and Presence to change you into a person who loves."  66LL sorrow produces repentance to salvation. Life. 2 Cor 7:10.

So, having these promises from God.
Beloved.
Let us cleanse ourselves from what controls us, what defiles us.
Perfect holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor 7:1

It is right to be disconcerted over what bothers us about how we act wrongly.
His Right-Now Grace purifies.

"Holiness should be the object of our constant prayers." Matthew Henry

What has godly sorrow produced in you and in me?
Eagerness to clear ourselves.
Readiness to see justice done.
Living to love.
Longing to forgive.
2 Cor 7:11

PHOTO:  Infinite Pathos,