From this week's reading, my mind was captivated by the words on the second half of page 67 through the first half of page 69. On those pages the history lesson focuses on King Asa of Judah. More specifically I was captivated by the attributes of King Asa that earned him favor with the Lord. I realize that after the new covenant came into effect after Jesus, we do not have to earn favor with the Lord, that favor is a gift from Jesus, but I still love to learn from history what is pleasing to God. I still want to be pleasing to God, not to earn His favor, but to thank Him for inviting me (through the sacrifice of Jesus) into the shelter of His Kingdom.

On page 67 it says that king Asa “did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles”. Further down, it says “Asa also removed the pagan shrines as well as the incense altars from everyone of Judah’s towns”. It goes on to say that “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”.

While the new covenant was a game changer in terms of what is required of us to be acceptable to God. I don’t believe it changed God. So the eyes of the Lord may still search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. Boy do I need strengthening. So this morning as I walked and prayed I sought out any sacred pillars, idols, shrines or sinful patterns in my life. I really want to smash them. Possibly without those things I will be viewed as "fully committed to him" and He will search me out for a dose of His strengthening.

May God bless you all!