We know that prayer is not a vending machine, and that sometimes good people praying right (like Job) still suffer terrible things, at least for a time. Nevertheless, an overarching story of Scripture and a key biblical principle is one of sowing and reaping. Good people praying right are ultimately heard, good work does receive a reward: there will be a harvest. What we ask for according to the will of God, we do get (1 John 5:14). We don’t always see the good outcome immediately, or ever...

In our previous reflection on Asa, we looked at how he knew when it was time to build, and how we too are in a time to build. This time, as we follow the story, we will see how the moment came for the builder to become a fighter, and for the fighter – before he even started fighting – to be a pray-er. BUILDERS AND FIGHTERS MUST BE PRAY-ERS Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1 ...

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 14:2 Asa was a good king. He led from the front, including in battle (2 Chronicles 14:10). He was a godly spiritual, and not only a political or military, commander: “He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands” (2 Chronicles 14:4). He was a demolition expert: “He removed…smashed…cut down” the “foreign altars…sacred stones…Asherah poles” (2 Chronicles...