Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

Read

2 Kings 22:11-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king’s servant Asaiah, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, where they consulted her. She declared to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, I will indeed bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel:

Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place.” They took the message back to the king.

Reflect

Perhaps at some point, you have felt like the people in the scripture reading today. You are out running an errand, you are working your job, you are going about your daily business getting another item checked off your “to-do” list for today, you are just doing what you are asked to do on any routine day. But out of nowhere, God shows up and your day takes an unplanned turn. Something happens and maybe you see God in action in your life. Maybe you read a word that speaks to your heart and you sense God moving through that message. Maybe someone says something and their words get you to thinking.

When God wants to get our attention, God can and will employ a variety of ways. Sometimes we might feel as though God slapped us in the face or hit us over the head. At other times, it may be that feeling that just will not go away, that still small voice that keeps calling and calling. So when God steps into our agendas and plans, how will we respond? Do we choose to ignore God and not obey, or will we humble ourselves, seek God, and obey God’s words? As you carry out your routine tasks for today, look for places and ways that God is showing up in your life.

Pray

God, so often we get busy with life, doing the things we think must be done and often we overlook your presence with us. Help us not to forget your words, and help us to humble ourselves, seek you, and recognize you when you show up in our lives at times that we were not expecting. Throughout each day’s agenda, help us to obey the words of your book.

Go with God!