Leadership is always hard work, but it’s particularly demanding if the leader needs to lead people to change directions. In the history of Israel’s up-and-down walk with God, King Asa was a leader who the writer of Chronicles said produced an “up” period. It was hard work, involving a lot of finding and removing of shrines to foreign idols (read on to 2 Chronicles 15:9-12), but the prophet Azariah assured him that it was worthwhile.

• 2 Chronicles 14 told the story of Asa leading Judah in battle against a great invading army. Today’s passage contained God’s encouragement to the king and people to keep seeking God once the crisis was past. Have you ever turned to God in a time of crisis, only to go back to your familiar ways once the crisis was over? How have you learned to keep God with you in day-to-day life?
• The CEB Study Bible notes that verse 2 (“If you seek [God], he will be found by you”) “is a general theme sounded throughout the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles.” In what ways could the writer(s) of Chronicles, looking back after the exile in Babylon, see disasters in Israel’s history when they did not seek God? Have you found greater spiritual strength when you “seek” God (stay open to God’s presence and work, rather than trusting exclusively to your own strength and wisdom)?