Joel M Bradshaw

56“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.–1 Kings 8

1. Solomon was praying to God at the dedication of the Temple.
2. Let’s take each of these brief lines in turn.
3. God’s Word does not fail. God does not fail.
4. God does not abandon His people. He is with them.
5. God turns people’s hearts towards obedience.
6. Our natural state is to follow our own hearts and passions. I call this the “Joel path.” The Joel path is the natural one for me and I won’t, in my own power, leave it. The problem is, the Joel path is not the Jesus path. I require God to turn my heart, or I will never on my own give Him glory.
7. Solomon prayed it. I am living it. How about you and your path?–JMB