Direct Connection

Reading of the Day 5/9/25: 2 Chronicles 18-20

2 Chronicles 20:6: And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

King Jehoshaphat came to a very clear realization about God: seeking His voice & counsel does not always mean seeking out what we want to hear. We have to be willing to say, if it's what He wants, then that's the answer I want. Before realizing this, Jehoshaphat was someone who liked to "shop around" for an answer from God. If it sounded good, it was good enough. A couple chapters back, in order to consult with God for an answer about going up against an enemy, he gathered a group of prophets who all said yes. He also asked another prophet who said no. The king never liked the one who said no, because he always spoke against his wishes...but this prophet was the only one of God! This prophet knew the others had a lying spirit to confuse the king! Turns out, he was right! King Jehoshaphat of Judah & king Ahab of Israel chose to listen to the "yes" men & lost. King Ahab died, but king Jehoshaphat was spared because God knew he had previously done some good & he gave him another chance. In this act of mercy, king Jehoshaphat does things differently the next time around! This time, he calls out to God directly about going to battle, and the Spirit of God moves upon someone who speaks & truthfully prophesies that they will get the victory! Since he asked God directly in this above Scripture, there could be no doubt the answer was of God! They did get the victory, and king Jehoshaphat even purposes the army to go in & out of battle with praise & worship! There's just nothing like a direct connection with God! Although it's always good to ask others for prayer, it's so important to nurture our personal connection with God in our own prayer life. We can't "shop around" for answers, we have to confirm those answers with God! We have to have confidence that the answers we receive are not in contradiction to His Word! That direct connection is so valuable and cannot be replaced, even by those close to us. Let's encourage all to get close to The Lord, and in that direct connection, we will all see the victory!