II Chronicles 14-16

“And Asa did what was good and right …” (14:2).  King Asa of Judah began well, commanding the people “to seek the Lord God … and observe the law” (v4).  When the Ethiopians attacked, he prayed, “Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in Thee” (v11).  The prophet Azariah encouraged the king, “Be strong and do not lose courage, for there is a reward for your work” (15:7).  However, eventually, Asa’s courage failed him.  Facing new attacks (16:1), Asa doubted God’s power and made an alliance with Aram. 

Our reputations and our past don’t matter nearly as much as whether our “hearts are completely His” (16:9).