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Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 34 

While he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places. (2 Chronicles 34.3) 

Devotional Thought: "I have a special purpose for her."  That was what I "heard" as I prayed for my then seven or eight year-old granddaughter, Avery.  When I shared that with her mother, she agreed with me.  I began to pray that God would prepare Avery's heart and mind to follow this call.  Was it wrong to pray that "while she was yet a girl"?  Josiah began to seek God "while he was yet a boy." 

Josiah came to the throne when he was seven years old.  Of course, he had advisors and agents who guided him.  These guardians taught him well, for at the age of 15, he assumed a measure of responsibility in the pursuit of God's call, and "he began to seek..."  While his pursuit didn't start out fully formed and functional, Josiah he started the process.  We are never too young and it is never too early to begin pursuing the call of God.  If God is speaking to you about something, start it!  Take that first step! 

At the age of 19, Josiah began to do the heavy lifting that was to make him famous as a great reformer.  He purged Judah and Jerusalem of the high places.  These were not just places of idolatry, but they were places where God could be worshiped more conveniently.  They were popular among the people, but antithetical to the purpose of God.  Josiah was able to make that hard and unpopular decision because his character of obedience had been formed "while he was yet a boy."  Do not discount the early acts of obedience.  Nurture them in yourself and in others, for they will enable you to do the difficult things later. 

When it comes to pursuing the call of God, it's time to get started! 

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gifts and calling of God.  Help me to pursue you with all my heart, to get started now, and to form my character for future decisions.  Bless those around me that they, too, may get started!

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 81:1-7

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.

5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:

6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah