I was actually kind of down when I started journaling on this Sunday afternoon in February.  I knew I should give praise because the Lord Jesus is always worthy, no matter how I feel, so I started with positive things, but I still had the “blahs”.

From the journal . . . February 2025

Jesus it’s nice to have a lazy Sunday. Our missionary shared today how she led an older woman of the tribe to You. That was fun for her, and she was excited to share.  Thank you for the church family.

I’ve texted a lot of people about the PCF oldies gathering. Lord, help me to not overlook anyone .  .  .

Lord, I think my purpose in living is to love You and to encourage Your people to keep believing and loving You. That is best for people, but I also know You give them a choice. You never force someone to believe.

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22:37-39).

 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15a).

My feelings today are “blah”. I’m not really happy or sad.

And God said to me:

Keep going through the “blah”- ness. It’s temporary. You still love what you love. You love the good and you hate the bad. You loved seeing the young family with their new baby.  You loved hearing from the missionary family. But you were sad to see some discouraged ones in the congregation.

Yes, Lord.  They seemed so alone. Oh Jesus, I commend them to You!

Lord, You are always the answer to what gets us down.

You are alive and My Spirit is in you. Keep loving others. Keep caring about the people.  Keep commending your loved ones to Me. You know the sun will shine again and the joy will return. Keep faithfully hoping.

So, I randomly flipped open the Bible to see if there was something significant.  I landed on 2 Chronicles 17:16

 . . .and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the Lord, and with him 200,000 valiant warriors (2 Chronicles 17:17).

Amasiah volunteered for the Lord’s service with 200,000 troops under his command. As I read the context in which it was written (2 Chron.17:1-19), I saw it was at the time when King Jehoshaphat had become the king of Judah. He was a good king who served the Lord.  He had sent officials to teach the people from the Law of the Lord.  He also sent Levites and priests with copies of the Law to teach the people in the land of Judah.

Verse 17:10 says, “Then the fear of the Lord fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat!!”

King Jehoshaphat was a faithful man who wanted to serve the Lord, even in a land where many had turned away from Him. The king understood the importance of God’s Word, so he made sure the people were taught from it. This was God’s plan. Amasiah also responded to the Lord by volunteering his resources to support the king — another part of God’s plan.

The surrounding kingdoms responded to the fear of the Lord by giving King Jehoshaphat gifts and tributes of silver and livestock.  All part of God’s plan.

Why did they do that? Because You, Lord, so willed it.

Whoa! Jehoshaphat intentionally sent out qualified teachers with the Law of the Lord to teach the people and the fear of the Lord fell on them (2 Chronicles17:9-10). Reading or hearing the law brought the Spirit and a fear of the Lord.  There is a strong connection between the reading of Scripture and the Spirit.

Amazing!

Jesus, today, this very day, You have given me hope, joy, and confirmation,  by the reading of Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit.

Jesus, thank you for Your love and care! So many millions of thoughts swirl through my brain. There are too many to give words to and so I end with, “I love, adore, and worship You”.

 I don’t always put much faith in randomly flipping pages in the Bible and pointing to a verse, but that’s what I did on this day, and the Lord showed me exactly what I needed to see! I definitely have reading plans as I read the Bible but every once in a while it’s worth a try!   He gave me joy in the learning and multiplied it by His Voice in my randomness!!