A Heart Fully Committed To God
BRD REFLECTION 2025
2 Chronicles 16; 17 and Psalm 89:19-52 (NIV)
(Ng Su-Ran from Discipleship and Nurture)
READ:
2 Chronicles 16 (NIV)
Baasha, king of Israel began work to build up the fortress at Ramah to block the route into and out of Judah. Asa, king of Judah, sought help from Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, and bribed him with gold and silver from the treasuries of the temple. When Ben-Hadad attacked cities in Israel, Baasha stopped the building work and Asa dismantled it.
Hanani the prophet then rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Aram instead of on God, and missing the chance to defeat the army of Aram.
OBSERVE:
Asa had earlier faced much greater danger from the Ethiopians with an army of a million men. Asa had called on the Lord then – recognising that no one but God could help in the battle and trusting in God to do so. God defeated the Ethiopians, and Judah carried away much spoil. (2 Chronicles 14)
Yet, later, when faced with a smaller and not so immediate threat from Baasha, Asa did not look to the God who had given him such great victory but turned instead to a pagan king for help.
APPLY:
Many of us have experienced God’s protection and help at different times. And we know to seek God when the problem is too large or difficult for us to manage and there is no one else who can help us.
Yet when a problem is smaller, like with Asa, we do not seek God. Are we so confident and secure in our own abilities that we do not think that we need God’s help? Do we think that the matter is too small to bother God with it? Instead of seeking God, we seek instead to rely on our own abilities, experiences, plans and stratagems.
Hanani tells us that “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV)
Are we fully committed to God when we do not seek Him in all matters, both great and small? Do we look to Him only after our own plans have failed and we turn to Him in desperation and as a last resort?
We need to have a heart fully committed to God, that we can share with Him our joys and pains, our plans and difficulties, and to seek His guidance and help in all things big and small.
DO:
I need to seek God first in all my endeavours and difficulties, both big or small, and to trust Him to strengthen and provide.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for strengthening those who are committed to You. Help me to seek You in all that I do and to trust and rely on You in all things. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
