Becoming Our Best Selves

　　By Jennifer Slattery

　　Bible Reading:

　　Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, just as David his father had done. In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the Lord’s house and repaired them. He summoned the priests and Levites, gathering them in the open space to the east, and said to them: “Listen to me, you Levites! Sanctify yourselves now and sanctify the house of the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and clean out the filth from the sanctuary. - 2 Chronicles 29:1-5, NIV

　　One Sunday, as we waited for church service to start, my daughter looked at me and said, “I appreciate the effort you put into our relationship. You broke the cycle.” She meant that I chose not to follow certain dysfunctional patterns that plagued my family of origin for generations. Her words touched me to the point of tears because they echoed my heart. When I first became aware of ways I’d wounded those I loved, I grieved.

　　Initially, shame made me want to withdraw and self-protect. Praise God, His gentle Spirit nudged me forward, encouraging me to wholeheartedly yield to His healing, transformative work. Although I still recognize ways in which I need to grow and change, I also rejoice over the Lord’s ability to remove the diseased places within our souls while stirring us to fresh life.

　　As I pondered my daughter’s words, I thought about various people I know. One friend who experienced horrific trauma as a child grew into a compassionate, Christ-honoring woman. Others, however, became abusers, manipulators, or addicts. I’ve also watched individuals raised by the most loving, Spirit-led, and supportive parents turn toxic and self-destructive.

　　Scripture assures us that God offers us all His free gift of grace. The question is, how will we respond when He invites us to align our hearts with His?

　　Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz, chose darkness. 2 Chronicles 28 tells us that he made idols to worship the Baals and even sacrificed his children in the fire.

　　Consider the environment, within the palace and the land, such cruelty and wickedness would’ve created. How the devil must’ve celebrated as evil dominated and destroyed the most vulnerable among them. The enemy gained more than a foothold; he was forcefully, and progressively staking claim to God only knows how many families and souls.

　　2 Chronicles 28:4 tells us the idolatry he created was so pervasive that he offered sacrifices at the high places, on the hilltops, and under everyspreading, or green, tree.

　　But notice his son’s Hezekiah’s response, once he came to power. According to 2 Chronicles 29:3, he instituted intensive, wide-spread religious reform within one month of occupying the throne. He also immediately re-established proper worship.

　　This suggests pre-planning. When did he first grow concerned with his father’s influence? At what age did he begin formulating a strategy to counter the spiritual damage Ahaz created and to turn the hearts of the people back to God?

　　Obviously, Scripture doesn’t tell us. What we do know, however, is that Hezekiah was ready to act the moment the opportunity came. He understood God’s will and His responsibility to carry it out, and gathered people, the priests, and Levites, to help. One can only imagine the lives he changed, and in regard to children not sacrificed, saved.

　　Intersecting Life Faith:

　　What kind of legacy will we leave? God probably won’t ask us to tear down altars and high places devoted to idols, However, He does call us to actively push back this world’s darkness with His light. Our assignment often, if not always, begins with ourselves as we respond to His Spirit, at work within us.

　　May we regularly pray the words recorded in Psalm 139:23-24, which reads,

　　Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful” or grievous or distressing “way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (NIV).

　　The truth is, our Father is already intimately familiar with all our ways—the words we speak and hold back, the pain we grieve or suppress, the ways we increase or tarnish our world’s beauty, and the people we encourage or wound. He also sees the root of our attitudes, emotions, and behaviors, and He responds to us not with anger, but compassion. The One who moves toward us in our brokenness urges us to move toward Him as well. As we sit in His presence, His love heals our shame, and His Spirit reveals our next steps.

　　This might mean joining a support group, initiating reconciliation, setting healthy boundaries, seeking a therapist, or reducing our schedule to free up more time to spend with Him. While He leads each of us differently and uniquely, we can trust Him to lead.

　　Further Reading:

　　2 Chronicles 30:6-9

　　Psalm 103:1-8

　　Isaiah 40:11, 28-31

　　Photo Credit: © Unsplash/elisa-ph

　　Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.

　　She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.

　　Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!

　　Related Resource: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Your EmotionsAre you tired of up-and-down feelings stealing your peace, sabotaging your relationships, and filling your mind with self-defeating thoughts? What if you had a proven emotional management tool to biblically respond to your feelings with compassion and clarity? Join us for today’s episode to discover three simple steps to manage emotions, reduce stress, improve decision-making, and grow closer to God. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!