“The LORD was with Jehoshaphat…So the LORD established Jehoshaphat’s control…All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed…Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat…So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful……”
2 Chronicles 17:3, 5, 12 NLT
When a person is blessed, some people wonder, “What did HE do to deserve all that?” But a snapshot of that person’s past would most likely reveal the secret—their choices.
Jehoshaphat’s blessings did not fall on him by accident or by lottery. Scripture reveals that time after time Jehoshaphat made choices that pleased the heart of God and resulted in HIS blessings.
God was WITH Jehoshaphat because he chose NOT to worship Baal but chose instead to seek God and obey HIS commands. Jehoshaphat chose to be deeply committed to the LORD and remove pagan shrines—SO the LORD established him, and the people honored him with gifts—SO he became wealthy.
Jehoshaphat chose to teach God’s Word throughout his kingdom—THEN the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms—SO not one of them attacked Judah. Former enemies brought him gifts instead—SO Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful.
Jehoshaphat’s choices brought him security, honor, wealth, protection, and power, but his greatest blessing was RELATIONSHIP—the Lord was WITH Jehoshaphat. God did not force relationship OR the blessings of relationship on Jehoshaphat. His choices demonstrated an open heart, SO God gladly made it overflow!
So next time people notice God’s blessing in your life and wonder, why "you," here’s your answer…
The blessings of relationship depend on choices…
so every day of my life, I choose HIM!
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