RTW 2022

And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request.
2 Chronicles 33:13a

“God sent him into the dungeon to repent; as he did David into the depths, and Jonah into the whale’s belly to pray. Adversity hath whipt many a soul to heaven, which otherwise prosperity had coached to hell.” – John Trapp

To what depths would God have to take me in order to repent?

But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.
2 Chronicles 33:12

The prayer that moves God:

• Sincere: not proud or arrogant; modest
  Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
  Hebrews 10:22

• Humble: free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest
  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
  James 4:10 NLT

The result to God’s forgiveness:

• Action: set right in our life what was wrong

“Turn to Him with brokenness of soul, and He will not only forgive, but bring you out again; and give you, as He did Manasseh, an opportunity of undoing some of those evil things which have marred your past.” – F.B. Meyer

Manasseh took his opportunity to undo seriously. He:

• Strengthened Judah’s defense by securing building new walls.
• Strengthened Judah spiritually by tearing down altars to false gods and idols.
• Strengthened Judah by renewing their relationship with the Lord through the restoring the altar of the Lord and reinstating sacrifices on it.

The people’s response to Manasseh’s life change, renewed national security and religious reforms:

• However, the people still sacrificed at the pagan shrines, though only to the LORD their God.
  2 Chronicles 33:17

‍

Oh Wendy, never rebuilt what God helped you tear down.He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.
2 Kings 21:3

Forgiveness will change me and my behavior, but not others. I am only responsible for myself.