Author: Chet Bandy

I live in Bloomington, Illinois with my wife Shannon and 4 children. I grew up in Central Illinois with Lutheran roots. We moved to the area in 2011 and began attending Eastview Christian Church where I now lead a Small Group. It's been awesome to see God's plan for our lives and our growing thirst for knowledge of His Word and a closer relationship with Jesus through our move to Bloomington. Professionally, I'm a wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual.

Conviction and Courage

Today’s readings are 2 Kings 22-23, Psalm 73, and 2 Corinthians 5.

In 2 Kings 22-23, we read about King Josiah who took over as king of the southern kingdom of Judah at just the age of 8. Could you imagine? We don’t know a lot about his first 17 years of ruling, but we do know from these chapters that quite a lot happened in year 18.  Not only did Josiah want to reward the laborers who had been working on the temple financially (which seemed to be a very nice gesture), but he then became very convicted about changing many of the terrible and sinful behaviors including worshipping of other idols not only across the land but even within the temple.  After hearing the Book of the Law read to him (presumably for the first time after it was found in the temple), he not only became convicted of what was right and wrong, but he also took action to right what was wrong. And boy did he ever! I mean I can’t even hardly list all that he did and how he did, but I would encourage you to read these chapters to see. I’m picturing his words and action with the passion shown by Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart after reading about what he did and how he went about it. It seems as though he would stop at nothing to fix things and turn Judah back to God which included not only removing the bad things, but also reinstituting the Passover which hadn’t been observed since the days the judges  (2 Kings 23:22).

Reading these chapters and what Judah was doing against God’s Word almost makes the US seem like Candyland despite all the things our country is doing to turn away from God and His Word. Reading this also gives me hope that our country can turn back to God at some with the right leadership someday, even when it may seem way too far gone like I’m sure Judah did at the time.

What would you do if you were King Josiah? What would you do if you were the leader of the United States? Most importantly, what do you do now in your current roles at home, at work, and just as you go about your everyday life interacting with others? As a Christ follower, we should all pray for wisdom as to when to speak up and when to take action to point others back to God with the same courage and conviction that pushed King Josiah to do what he did.

Why? God doesn’t need us to defend Him or His name. But, Paul does state in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that…”He died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.” If we are living for Him, we can take action because we are not fearful of what may happen or what others may think, and we are called to help lead others back to Him and His Words. Later in 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul says that Christ followers are “ambassadors for Christ.” As Pastor Brandon Grant stated in discussing these exact verses this past weekend at Eastview Christian Church, an ambassador is a representative in a foreign land. Or another way of saying it is that we are no longer a citizen of this world but a citizen of Heaven where we act on behalf of the leader of where we are truly from and call home and this is God.

How do we do this? I don’t think it is to go to social media with more posts that may be more divisive than anything. And beyond that, I’m not sure. That is up to each of us to figure out in our daily lives, but I pray that each of us will ask God for courage to do so and wisdom as to how to go about it. We are told in 1 John 4:8 that God is love and if we abide in love then we abide in God and God abides in us. Jesus came and spoke truth in love, and when we have the conviction and courage do the same and to live for Him as Paul says we’re called to do we can make an impact in the lives of others to benefit them and His Kingdom.

 

Because of Christ

Today’s readings are 2 Kings 20, Isaiah 38-40, Psalm 68, and 1 Corinthians 11.

In 2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38-39 we read about God healing King Hezekiah, king of the southern kingdom of Judah, from an illness which would have led to his death. Shortly thereafter Babylon sent envoys to see him because they heard of his healing. Hezekiah himself says he showed them all that was in his house (2 Kings 20:15 and Isaiah 39:4). God was upset about this and said as a result his lineage would be taken captive by the Babylonian empire which we know did later occur. Why was God displeased?

King Hezekiah did not glorify God through his healing and give credit to God. He missed his opportunity to tell these pagan visitors about the one and only true God of the Universe who saved him. Instead, he showed them his “stuff.” And on top of that, he did not give God credit for providing that either.

How often do we just show people who don’t know Jesus our “stuff,” instead of showing them Him? How often do we not give him credit for all He’s brought us through..most importantly saving us from our sins on the cross and giving us eternal life with Him in Heaven as a result?

In 2018, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis which would have eventually led to paralysis in my legs and loss of the use of both hands. By the grace of God, 5 surgeries between 2019 and 2021 stopped the progression. Not only that, but through a connection from my sister-in-law, Kim, to her sister, Diane, I was able to find a surgeon in Pittsburgh who fixed my condition without a fusion of my spine which is the only common treatment and what Mayo even recommend. A fusion in my late 30s would have not only led to loss of range of motion, but almost certainly more complications and fusions if I live to anywhere near life expectancy. While I still have some symptoms, most noticeable atrophy, and some minor loss of motor functions in my hand, I was told by a physician friend how blessed I am to even be able to type this right now, let alone throw a ball and play catch with my kids. Born at a different time, I would have been just like the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5) or the man with withered hand Jesus healed (Mark 3:1-6). This is not to even mention yet that my dream was to be an orthodontist, but at the very last minute something (I know now it was God) caused me to change my major to finance when completing my application to the University of Illinois and led me to my career today. If not for God’s provision to lead me on a different career path, I could be wondering right now what to do for a career, not to mention possibly experiencing major financial hardship or at a minimum financial change for my family. God has truly blessed me and my family.

In reflecting, I realized recently when sharing my story when someone notices I have trouble opening something or I struggle doing something else requiring a find motor skill, I don’t always share as much of my story or always give as much glory to God in my shortened and rushed version as I should. I need to be reminded to show people Jesus and how He’s healed and me through my story and weakness (and most importantly saved me from my sins)..not just my “stuff” like Hezekiah.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Because of Christ…

https://youtu.be/xcE5TiZwANM?si=NdLBjtLZOegNBBKm

Who Gets the Glory?

Today’s readings are Isaiah 17-19, Psalm 62, and 1 Corinthians 1.

From a very young age we seem to all have a need for attention. We want to be noticed. You might even call it human nature. Just this past holiday weekend I heard my young kids say in the pool many times, “Dad..look at me!” Is wanting to be noticed, seen, or heard wrong or a sin? I would probably say it is not, but there is a very fine line. We live in a world today where it is very easy to cross that line. We constantly post pictures of our latest vacations, sports games and concerts we are attending, dinner at fancy restaurants, ours or our kids’ achievements, and we can’t forget that selfie’s seem to be the norm these days. Yes…we have to admit that our “look at me” world has become a little excessive. And I’m not just pointing fingers at others.

Merriam-Webster defines boast as “to praise oneself extravagantly with speech: speak of oneself with pride.”

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:31, “so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul leads by example in this chapter starting in verse 1 where he gives credit to God saying he’s called by God’s will to be an apostle of Jesus. In verse 4 he gives thanks to God and in verse 9 he again gives credit to God saying it was God’s faithfulness that they were called into fellowship with Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, Paul discusses how many whom he is writing to were not wise or noble by worldly standards. He says God chose what is weak, despised, and low in the world to shame the strong so that He would get the glory, and they could only boast in Him.

Some of us may have come from really tough and humble backgrounds that is easier to realize we would not have gotten to where we are today without Him. Some of us may have been more fortunate in our background that it is easier to take what we have for granted or even if we came from a tough background we could say we worked hard and made it for ourselves. That is the “American Way” right?

But, we must all realize we were born into this world naked with nothing (so whatever we have/had has come from Him), and we all will die and leave this world taking nothing with us. And we are all dead in our sin without His saving grace which gives us who are believers eternal life found only in Him.

So, the next time we talk to others about what is going well in our lives, or we post that picture on Facebook or Instagram, let us remember to give Him the glory and praise He deserves knowing that we should only boast in Him (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Is God Enough?

Today’s reading is Hosea 11-13 and Matthew 19.

Question : “How big is too big of a house?”

Answer: “Just a little bit bigger than my house.”

Do you believe you are rich? You probably don’t, but if you put your income into this website, https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/how-rich-am-i, by worldly standards you likely are.

I’m sure I’ve shared this before, but a pastor I know shared a story of picking up a pastor from Africa at the airport who had never been to the US before. As they began to drive to their destination the pastor said he would pray for those in US. When the US pastor asked why perplexed, the pastor from Africa stated it was because Americans have everything they need and more, they don’t “need God.” Most of us don’t need to rely on Him for our next meal and our everyday things and then some.

Jesus states in Matthew 19:23 that only with difficulty does a rich person enter the kingdom of Heaven. By worldly and historical standards, that is you and me if you live in the US. It is easy to think we don’t need God when our physical needs are easily met without having to fully rely on Him. Jesus also challenges the rich young ruler to leave his possessions and follow Him in Matthew 19:21. The saddened young ruler walks away disappointed. What would we do if we were in his shoes? What do we do every day when Jesus is subtly whispering in our heart to let go of our worldly possessions and passions? Do we hold on too tight like the young man or do we give them away to His Kingdom and follow Him? Sadly, I know what I do.

I am inspired by the disciples who dropped everything to follow Him. I’m also inspired by the widow’s offering in Mark 12:41-44 where she gave 2 copper coins which were likely her last with the loss of her husband and his income leading Jesus to compliment her in comparison to the Pharisees who gave only the equivalent of their loose change.

I heard a past leader in our company speak and tell of a challenging time when her husband was killed in an accident, and she was about to lose her job for poor performance. She was at rock bottom and as she prayed she felt God asking her, “Am I enough?”

As we read about the rich young ruler today, and we reflect on our money, possessions, and passions we are holding onto too tight, this is a great question to ask ourselves, “If I lost it all, is God enough?”

More Jesus. More Faith.

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 24, 2 Kings 12, and Matthew 9. Our focus will be on Matthew 9.

What are you praying and asking God for right now? Do you believe it can happen? More importantly, you believe it will happen?

James 1:6-8 says…

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God instructs us here to ask in faith. So, what is faith?

Here is what Hebrews 11:1 says faith is..

 1To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

Are you sure of things you hope for and certain of things you can’t see? I wish as a Christ-follower I could consistently say yes.

In Matthew 9 we see 5 miracles Jesus performed with all 5 of them showing the person who the miracle was performed for or someone close to them showing faith.

  1. Jesus Heals a Paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8) – A paralytic was brought to Jesus by his friends, and it specifically states Jesus healed him when he saw their faith in verse 2.
  2. Jesus Heals a Ruler’s Daughter (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26) – The ruler came to Jesus with his daughter dying and explicitly tells Jesus he knows she’ll live if Jesus lays hands on her in verse 18.
  3. Jesus Heals a Woman with Blood Discharge (Matthew 9:20-22)- The woman had this problem for 12 years but states in verse 21 that if she just touches his cloak only..she believes she will be well.
  4. Jesus Heals Two Blind Men (Matthew 9:27-30) – Jesus actually asks them if they believe he’s able help them see, and they say yes.
  5. Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak (Matthew 9:32-34) – This one is a little more obscure but we see in verse 32 that the man was brought to Jesus. He wouldn’t have been brought to Jesus if someone didn’t believe Jesus could and would heal him.

There are 2 common denominators in these miracles. The first is Jesus. How many times do we pray for things but then not involve him and try to do it ourselves? The 2nd common denominator is the faith that the miracle would be done. How many times do we pray for something without being sure God will do it?

What do our prayer requests need? More Jesus. More faith.

Hide and Seek

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 15-16, 1 Kings 16, and Philemon.

This last week our kids have been playing a lot of hide and go seek. They may go months without playing, but then all of the sudden they get really into it again. I must say they are improving from a few years back when Hudson was about 2 and Reese was about 5, and I go upstairs after counting to find Hudson in the hallway pointing and saying, “Reesey’s in the closet!” I always know these days when I come home from work that they have been playing when my closet is in disarray and if I go in theirs and it is the same.

I couldn’t help but think of this when reading about King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15-16. King Asa was a descendant of David and the 3rd king of the southern kingdom of Judah after the divide of Israel my brother, Chad, gave us some background on Monday (https://www.biblejournal.net/2024/07/22/seeking-counselo/).  While he is generally thought of a good king who was “wholly true to God” (2 Chronicles 15:17) and who worked to destroy the idols of Israel (2 Chronicles 15:8), even removing his mom from being queen mother for her idol worship, King Asa unfortunately made some mistakes later that did not please God.

First, despite the fact that Asa called on God to help him defeat the Ethiopians and Libyans, he did not call on God when there was a threat from Baasha, king of Israel. He instead took silver and gold from the temple and gave it to Ben-hadad, king of Syria, to try to help build an alliance with them for assistance. God understandably wasn’t too pleased that he both took riches from His temple, as well as turned to another earthly king for help instead of Him.  Not only did he make some mistakes in anger after being called out on his folly, but the final mistake Asa made in his last days was that after becoming sick and diseased in his feet, he still turned only to physicians and not to the Lord for healing.

Asa, although a godly man, stopped seeking the Lord and he didn’t finish well. So, my question to myself is, am I seeking the Lord in everything and always? Are my “closets” in disarray because I’m so diligently and actively seeking Him? Or am I just hiding…or maybe seeking other things instead of Him?

The good news is that God knew even good people who love Him would make mistakes, and He sent us Jesus to die on the cross to forgive us. And also we are told here in this same chapter…

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the earth, to give strong support for those whose heart is blameless toward Him.”

2 Chronicles 16:9a

Whether or not we are seeking Him, He’s always seeking us and ready…even when we don’t realize it. And when we learn from Asa’s mistakes and seek Him, we have His strong support. What an awesome thing to find strength, hope, and peace in.

Let us all say today, “Ready or not Lord…here I come!”

 

In God We Trust

Today’s reading is 2 Chronicles 5-7, Psalm 121, and 1 Timothy 4.

The year 2024 is an election year…in case you haven’t noticed. This brings much angst about what the future of our country will look like because 4 years seems like a long time until the next one, and it’s not just the presidency that matters, but also the House and Senate and other state and local elected officials. While I’ve written other posts in the past on this topic and about the fact that the true leader and king and one who is really in control never served a public office, and at the same time, the Bible does give us warnings about what happens when a nation turns their back on Him which we must take notice of. We read this here in 2 Chronicles 7 when Solomon finishes and dedicates the temple his Father David had a vision for which Solomon completed.

First though, He tells us what good occurs when a nation follows Him…

13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15

On the flip side, here is the warning when a nation doesn’t follow Him….

19 “But if you[a] turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will pluck you[b] up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’”

2 Chronicles 7:19-22

This is a stark warning that should cause us all to raise our eyebrows a little bit, say to ourselves, “Whoa!”, and take notice. As we move to our New Testament reading of 1 Timothy 4, the title of the beginning of the chapter in my Bible is “Some Will Depart from Faith” and it begins…

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

1 Timothy 4:1-2

Sadly, this sounds all too familiar as we see the people of this nation turning their back on God and His Word. God gives each one of us the freedom and choice individually as to whether we want to follow Him. And I believe we should give every individual in this country the freedom of whether or not they want to follow God. No one should be forced, and yet the Scripture is very clear on what happens when an individual, and here a nation, chooses to turn their back on God.

Some may say it is too late and that our country has already turned its back on God. I think Scripture is clear as well that it is not too late. Our verses here in 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 seem to indicate that God had stopped the rain or blessings because of not following Him, but what He would do if Israel then returns back to Him. We also see many times throughout the Old Testament where Israel turned their back on Him and yet He showed them mercy when they returned to Him (and sometimes before). We also know the mercy He showed us through sending us Jesus with the verse I reference in my last post of Romans 5:8 stating He gave us Jesus “while we were still sinners” and undeserving. He’s a God of grace, love, and mercy.

What are we to do?

We are given some instruction in 1 Timothy 4.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[a] so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 4:11-16

Each one of us who are followers of Jesus can control this in our own household and by how we live our lives and the example we set to others.

Finally, let us pray. Let us pray that our great nation will return back to the words, “In God We Trust.” These words (or something similar) and a call for prayer only seem to come from our country’s leaders when we are in tragedy. Let us pray we return back to these words and go to Him during all times.

Love Like Jesus

Today’s readings are Proverbs 24-25, Psalm 41, and 1 Thessalonians 2.

Do you have enemies? I think most of us would likely say we don’t. When I think of an enemy, I usually think of someone who is really out to get me and maybe even is trying to cause me physical harm. However, some may say yes. Possibly it is an ex-significant other or spouse who is really making it difficult to move on and may even to be trying to keep new relationships from happening or trying to strain relationships with your children. Maybe it’s someone who is telling untrue things about you to others which could prevent you from a promotion at work or again is straining other relationships.

What is your posture towards these people when you see them? What are you thinking when you see their social media posts about their life, their family, and their successes? At a minimum you are likely not cheering them on to victories in their life and maybe even are ok with seeing them stumble a little bit. If you are like me, grace and forgiveness is difficult to those who have hurt you and pulling for them to succeed is an even higher bar that is very challenging for me to get to..and maybe even I’m ok with the ball not bouncing their way in full transparency.

The book of Proverbs is very clear though on the posture and behavior we should have towards our enemies…

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

lest the Lord see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from him.”

Proverbs 24:17

 This verse says God’s anger turns away from that person when you rejoice in their stumbling and although it doesn’t explicitly state God’s anger turns to you…one can almost infer that. Jesus explicitly warns in Matthew 7:3-5 that it is wrong to find a speck in someone else’s eye because you are ignoring the plank in yours. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus also talks about a Pharisee who said he was glad he was not like other sinners, including the tax collector near him. The last verse, Luke 18:14 says, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” How can I love my enemies more? I can start by noticing the grime and yuck of my sin and the grace and forgiveness Jesus has given me when I don’t deserve it.

The next chapter in Proverbs has another verse about our enemies which says we shouldn’t stop at giving them grace and forgiveness.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for your will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.”

 Proverbs 25:21-22

 Blessing someone who has wronged me is another level of grace and forgiveness which can seem nearly impossible for me to get to. As I reflect though, isn’t that what Jesus did for me?

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

Nothing Can Separate Us…

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 42, and Romans 8. The chapters in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles cover Solomon asking God for wisdom and God granting it and then some. I would encourage you to read them, but our focus primarily here is Romans 8.

Last week, a tragic and horrific event occurred in our community in what appears to be a murder-suicide leaving 3 young boys without a mother and a father. What those boys are going through is unimaginable and to say my heart and the hearts of others ache for them would be an understatement. How and what does one even pray for them…peace, hope, strength, comfort? Yes..but somehow all these and really anything else we could seem to pray for just doesn’t seem to be enough.

The one thing I just keep coming back to in my prayer is that somehow and in some way, they know now and in the future that their Heavenly Father loves them and always will and is always there for them. This is the essence of what Romans 8 describes.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:31-32

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

I am blessed to have an earthly Father who has shown me love and gives me a window into my Heavenly Father’s love making it easier to understand and fathom. Without that, it must be much more difficult to comprehend God’s love for these boys and others, but we also know the Bible tells us nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26). And we are told here in Romans 8:37-39 that absolutely nothing can separate us from His love.

Will you please join me in praying for these boys that the Holy Spirit will work through those around them now and throughout their entire life so that they will be comforted by knowing the love of their Heavenly Father and Jesus which is told to us in God’s Word here in Romans 8 and throughout the entire Bible and ultimately evident through His sacrifice on the cross?

As you pray for them, please also consider praying for others in your life who may have experienced tragedy or past events which makes it difficult to know and comprehend the love God has for them.

 

Leadership Lessons From Joab

Today’s readings are 2 Samuel 9-10, 1 Chronicles 18-19, Psalm 89, and Acts 26.

Both 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19 tell the story of David’s army defeating the Ammonites and the Syrians who joined forces. In both places we are told Joab, the leader of David’s army, came up with a strategy to split up, allowing his brother Abishai to lead a group with him leading the other still so that one group could help the other if they were in trouble. After gathering everyone and delivering the strategy, he told everyone the following in both passages which I will quote directly from 2 Samuel 10:12…

“Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to Him.”

We can learn some great leadership lessons from Joab in both 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19 through this story.

  • You may be a good leader and great at what you do, maybe the best…but we must develop and trust in others, as well as delegate, to maximize our impact and what God will do through us to accomplish His will. We saw this through Joab allowing the army to split up and letting his brother Abishai lead the other group.
  • To lead others, we must have a strong “why” or purpose and communicate it to others with the potential to inspire them to potentially use it as theirs, too. Joab communicated the battle they were fighting was for their people and for the cities of God.
  • Have confidence. One of my past business coaches, Jason Selk, always said, “Confidence is the number one variable in success.” I can almost hear the confidence and conviction in Joab’s voice as he tells them to “Be strong..” Do you lack confidence? I do sometimes. A recent Tim Tebow book I read discussed having “God confidence.” As a believer in Jesus, your confidence is not in yourself, but what God can do through you. Check out Ephesians 3:20-21. It’s not what I can do, but what God can do through me. And that is more than I can ask or even imagine. I guess you could say these have become my life verse(s) in some way.
  • Joab gives it to God and ask that His will be done. I’ve also heard it said, “All we can do is to do our best, and let God take care of the rest.” As a Christ follower, it’s ok to ask for what we want..the Bible tells us that (Matthew 7:7-12). However, at the end of the day what should be most important to us is that His purpose is accomplished and that He is glorified which sometimes may come through our defeats and not through what we want occuring. We trust in God and that He will work good for whatever happens (Romans 8:28).

I pray we can apply these lessons from Joab in our lives which will allow God to be glorified through us and through all that we do.