Finish Well

For years, I’ve prayed, “God, please let me finish well!  What does that mean? What does it look like? It means you’ve lived a life to honor and obey God. You listen to Him. You ask Him for direction. You submit to God’s will instead of following your own. It also means you run the race well—you don’t give up or throw in the towel. You keep going even when you’re overwhelmed or dog tired.  

Jehoshaphat totally redeemed himself after that first battle when he hadn’t consulted God—he’d  committed to a battle before asking God if it was the right thing to do. The next time, he asked God for help FIRST! He saw God move in and confuse the enemy and they completely destroyed themselves!

But then…then Jehoshaphat made an alliance with a wicked king to build ships together. He never asked God about it. God wasn’t happy. He sent a prophet to Jehoshaphat to tell him his works would be destroyed. This is our last story of him. He didn’t finish well—even though “good things were found in him.”

God, I know my race hasn’t been perfect. There has been so much of “Becky” when there should have been more of You! I haven’t always listened nor obeyed. But I love You with all I know to love You. I want my life to look like Jesus’. I want to pull aside and hear You, consult You, love You, and submit to You. Please, please, PLEASE let me finish well!  I give You all that I am and all that I have. Let me push through and reach out to You as I cross the finish line! I want to do it with praise for You on my lips and a heart full of gratitude for all You’ve done! In Jesus’ name, amen.