READ 2 Chronicles 35
The Passover, unobserved for years, is reinstated.

INSIGHT
Abraham Lincoln once said, “A man’s about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.” That may be an oversimplification; yet it states a basic truth: Often we must consciously decide what we want to become. Those who grow spiritually are those who have made a conscious decision to pursue spiritual things. Josiah, one of the great kings of Judah, is a strong reformer who tries to lead the nation in righteousness. In 2 Chronicles 34:31, we read: “The king . . . made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul.” Have you ever made the decision to follow the Lord with your whole heart?

PRAYER
As He is a God both of power and compassion, we offer Him our praise:
Then the Levites — Jeshua, Kadmiel,
Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah,
Shebaniah, and Pethahiah — said, “Stand up.
Blessed be the Lord your God
From everlasting to everlasting.”  
Blessed be your glorious name,  
And may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.
You, Lord, are the only God.  
You created the heavens,
The highest heavens with all their stars,
The earth and all that is on it,
The seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them,  
And all the stars of heaven worship you
(Nehemiah 9:5-6).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And rescues them from all their troubles.  
The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit  
(Psalm 34:17-18).

As you confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But God proves his own love for us
In that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• A stronger desire to be like Christ
• The ministry of our nation’s churches
• Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Now to him who is able  
To do above and beyond
All that we ask or think  
According to the power that works in us —  
To him be glory in the church
And in Christ Jesus to all generations,
Forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21).