1 Kings 22 (The Message version)

Jamie Anderson

Make sure you're protected

We've recently expanded our offices and in the process of moving, we've had to invest in new telecommunications, office equipment, alarms, network stuff and so on. The one thing that we initially forgot was a firewall to safeguard us from internet pirates.

Now, if you're tech savy - you'll understand that we could have been in for some trouble. In theory some malicious hackers could get in and do some damage to our network or worse yet, install viruses or steal data. if you're not tech savy, let me try it this way: would you drive your car, without wearing a seatbelt or having insurance? Would you leave you house without locking all the doors and windows (ok, now that I don't live in London, I can see some people might). Do you leave your money under the mattress?

I am hoping you say "no" to most of the above, but here's a question that really is the start of what I want to share with you this time: How's your firewall? Not the one on your network or the free one that came with your home computer bundle - I mean the one that's in your heart? The one that protects your life. When was the last time you checked it was configured properly and doing its job right. Maybe you've turned it off because everything feels safe or maybe it's overloaded from being under too much attack. Either way - if it isn't working - you might get wounded or even die (I don't mean literally but maybe emotionally, spiritually, mentally or soulishly).

1 Kings 22 is a great story that starts out with a season of peace, then encounters prophetic consultation, disbelief, stubbornness, a bad decision, blood shed, and then death, if you don't have time to read it, here's the Key facts:

• Peace had been enjoyed for 3 years


• Kings sat around on their hands (The Message translation)


• Before deciding anything - God was asked for guidance via 400 prophets


• 400 prophets wasn't enough for Jehoshaphat - he wanted another


• The King didn't listen to Micaiah, the other prophet that was sent for


• The King of Israel went into war disguised; in other words, he didn't go as King, (who God had made him to be) but as someone of no significance


• He had a chink in the armour he was wearing, which "randomly" led to his death

This is one of those stories that makes me think - am I hearing God properly and will I listen to REAL words He speaks. Can I hear from Him and what if the firewall on my heart doesn't let the God traffic through but let's the hacker traffic in? What if there's a gap in my armour that could let a random arrow pierce my heart and cause my death: emotional, spiritual or otherwise.

I wonder if there has ever been a moment in your life when your firewall wasn't working and you got hurt? Have you recovered? Have you lost your way? Or have you died in some way? Maybe you've been sitting around on your hands, enjoying peace and thinking there's no need to listen to the warning that God is giving.

Think about this story.

I want to encourage you to take a moment at the beginning of every day to make sure that before you do anything "ask God for guidance" (verse 4-5), make sure that you then listen to His guidance - this way you won't have to miss the mark and suffer from a random attack.

Prayer:
Father I thank you for your wisdom and I pray that there is always an open connection to my heart. Please show me the way, show me Your way and guide my path. Help me to make good decisions and give me the strength to fight, the courage to stand and the passion to pursue all that You have for me.