I came home this weekend changed after spending time in the presence of God, and then yesterday I worshipped like I haven't worshipped in a long time. There are moments when God does something in you that you know you aren't supposed to walk away from the same.
But now it's Monday.
In a few hours I'll head to work, back to middle school, back to math classes, responsibilities, people, noise, frustrations, and regular everyday life. And this morning I'm realizing that this is where I have to live out what happened in His presence.
That's exactly where 2 Chronicles 31 begins.
The people had just spent fourteen days celebrating Passover, worshipping and seeking God. It had been an incredible time in His presence, but eventually the celebration ended and everybody had to go home.
And when they went home, they didn't go back to living the way they had before.
They started tearing down idols. Things changed.
That's what real worship should do.
What happens in the presence of God should follow us home. It should follow us to work. It should change how we talk, how we react, how we love people, what we tolerate, and what we allow back into our lives.
It's easy to worship when you're surrounded by worship. Monday is where you find out what came home with you.
nd then chapter 32 begins with words that really got my attention this morning, After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done...
The enemy came.
Hezekiah had opened the doors, cleaned the temple, restored worship and led people back to God. Then Sennacherib invaded. And isn't that how it goes?
We can have an incredible encounter with God, make decisions in His presence, come home changed, and then wake up Monday morning and life is still waiting for us. The fsct that you are in a battle doesn't mean what happened in God's presence wasn't real.
It means Now it's time to guard it.
Hezekiah starts repairing the broken places in the walls. He strengthens them and prepares the people. And that's where I'm at today. Repairing the walls, Guarding what God just did.
We can't let old thoughts, old reactions, distractions, frustrations, or the normal routine come rushing back through places God just restored.
We've been talking as we've read through Chronicles about our study notes for the test.
Well, Monday morning feels a lot like test day. And know It's one thing to write about seeking God but It's another thing completely to seek Him when I'm tired. It's one thing to worship freely on Sunday and It's another to carry that same heart into work on Monday. It's one thing to surrender something in His presence but It's another to refuse to pick it back up when real life starts again.
This is where we use our study notes.
Hezekiah doesn't sit around waiting for God to do everything either. He repairs the walls, He prepares, He organizes and He does what he knows to do. Then he reminds the people to Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for there is a greater power with them.
That's the balance.
We do our part. God does His.
We guard our hearts, We watch our reactions, We pray before walking through the doors. We pay attention to what we're allowing back into our minds and lives and We repair the places God shows us need repairing. But we don't fight in our own strength.
Chapter 33 shows us Manasseh, who tears down so much of what his father restored. Yet when he finally humbles himself and seeks God, God hears him. Manasseh comes home and starts repairing what he destroyed.
And There it is again.
Seek Him. Come back. Repair. Rebuild.
So this morning, before I head back into regular life, that's where I am. I don't want what happened in God's presence to stay in the weekend. I don't want Sunday's worship to become a memory by Monday afternoon. I came home changed. Now I have to live changed. When the enemy comes in like a flood, it's time to raise the standard, repair the walls, and stand in God's strength.
We do our part.
And we trust God to do His.
Love Pastor Mandy
Daily reading 2 Chronicles 31-33
MandiesDandies / Ark of Hope
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