And now for the rest of the story...

Have you ever been caught up in believing a half truth from Scripture?  I have...in fact, for the past five months.  Like scales falling from my eyes, when the FULL truth of Scripture was revealed to me, I could see clearly once again.

Last week I stepped out and did something that is out of my comfort zone.  I joined an online Bible study with a group at www.womensbiblecafe.com.  I felt led to do the Beth Moore study "Breaking Free."  I am in the process of finally letting God in to heal some past hurts and lies I believe and the title caught my eye.  When I found out that it was a study based out of Isaiah, a book the Lord has recently led me to study in my quiet time, I felt that it was the Holy Spirit's confirmation.  I meet with a chat group via Facebook, (which is so not my favorite social media..I like to be a birdie more!) and we discuss the questions and any personal insight and share encouragement.  (2013- Doing unexpected things as an adventure and growing from them!)

Anyway, back to the half truth of Scripture.  I was praying for a blessing in my life.  When it didn't happen, I took comfort in the fact that God's timing is over all in my life.  Ann Voskamp shared her BIL's perspective on looking at God's control even when things don't go the way we hoped in One Thousand Gifts.  Her BIL says that we don't know what will happen, and maybe if we get what we want we will end up with a Manasseah on our hands.  Manasseah was one of the worst kings of Israel.  He, in essence, was saying that since God is in control, perhaps when we don't get what we want and we grieve, God, in His goodness is saving us from more grief and heartache.  I loved that idea.  It brought me so much comfort to my heart over prayers that were not answered as I hoped.  Perhaps God was saving my heart from more potential heartache that would have been disastrous.

Now, just like Satan (which I spit in your general direction...pbbbbt) tried to manipulate the scripture to confuse Jesus, that crafty one has been manipulating scripture while I'm in my desert to confuse me.  Unlike Jesus though, I didn't fight it off because I wasn't equipped.  He started whispering to me that my dreams for my life,those hopes and prayers are "Manasseahs."  The things I desire are bad for me and bad for my life. Otherwise, why would God not have answered my prayers by now on things?  Why am I not living in those blessed places?  Why am I still praying the same requests for 10, 13, even 18 years? Give up those things and move on.  They are no good.  The endless torment went on until I finished my day three in "Breaking Free."  Yes, Manasseah was a bad dude, no doubt.  But look at the rest of the story:  (2 Chronicles 33:13-15) And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.  Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.  He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.

As Beth Moore wrote, "He has a unique distinction of being possibly the worst and one of the best kings of Israel."  Wow, look at what happened to Manasseah.  He was the worst, but God forgave him, and within that, gave Manasseah a new Spirit.  This new Spirit had a zeal and devotion to the Lord.  As I read that, I felt God just whisper to me, "If I can forgive and change Manasseah, I can change you and I can change those disappointments and situations. Nothing is forgotten.  Keep praying and keep believing as you walk.  Yes, Manasseah was not with me, but look what happened.  Nothing is impossible."

Wow, what would have happened if when I first heard about Manasseah if I would have went and actually looked in God's word for myself about what had happened to him?  Would I have been held captive for these past few months?  Would I have been to the edge of losing hope over things?  Maybe not, because I would have seen that with God, all things are possible.  Nothing is too far removed for His might hand to act on.

My rambling point is this:  when you hear a story or a verse, go read it all in context for yourself.  Am I saying that Ann Voskamp misquoted and misused Manasseah's story?  Absolutely not.  What I am saying is that if I had taken time to read the whole story, including Manasseah's redemption  I would have been able to fight the devil's attacks on my mind off more clearly. Since I've read that truth and let it be known in my life, that nagging voice has left me alone.  The mouth of the lion is shut.  Boom!