The Passover, unobserved for years, is reinstated.

June 30

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:
Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!
Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it, . ..
The host of heaven worships 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 delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:17-18).

As you confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, pray this affirmation to the Lord:
God demonstrates His own love toward 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:
To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).