Even though I’ve been a Christian for more than thirty years, I began to read the Bible with intentional regularity only in the last decade when immigration and a severe burnout that changed the course of my vocation made my need for it clear. Until then, my interaction with Scripture was limited to Sundays at church and Bible study in a small group whenever I was part of one. Every once in a while, I’d try to read through a book of the Bible on my own.
These occasional habits made a dent when they happened. But without a personal investment, the dent was only so deep. The choices that shaped my life were largely based on self-sufficiency. Scripture was not something I thought I needed, at least not regularly. When my self-reliance proved insufficient to navigate pivotal changes in my life, I became desperate to know God and His character—more than just about Him. This changed my relationship with His Word, which, in turn, changed me as I tried to obey what I was learning. A seemingly small change on the outside—the reordering of my schedule to make time to read the Bible intentionally over time—changed my life from the inside. The narratives I read in the Bible began to challenge the ones in my head. The more I read Scripture with the intent to know God, the more it read me. One book and story at a time, I found a God bigger than us and yet closer than our breath. Such understanding informs and changes how we pattern our lives.
In today’s readings, we see this in Josiah. His response revealed his heart. Upon learning what God said in Scripture, he mourned. His grief showed sorrow for things that should have been right but weren’t and lament for the terrible consequences of being apart from God.
This informed Josiah’s resolve “to follow the LORD and to keep his commands, his decrees, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul” (2Kings 23:3)—a promise he made publicly and followed with a series of drastic reforms.
King Josiah destroyed the places where people engaged in practices that had become commonplace, despite them being an affront to God and the people themselves—including human sacrifice! The elimination of these places and other sources of disobedience made way for life-giving practices, including observing the Passover of the Lord (v.21).
Josiah did not come from the best lineage, nor was he full of life experience. Yet despite the troubled legacy he inherited, Josiah chose to honor God instead. He patterned his decisions according to what he learned was God’s desire for His people. His reforms reconfigured a way of life that agreed with God’s heart.
Is there an area of your life where obedience would bring it in agreement with God? What has God shown you that you can start obeying today?
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118 thoughts on "Josiah"
Amen
Reading regularly has changed my life!❤️
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❤✝️ Removing what encourages me to sin
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What truly amazed me about this passage that I never noticed before the podcast is how long the people had neglected the Passover. It hadn’t been celebrated since the time of the judges, which means that even King David and King Solomon had neglected this important feast! No wonder they had gone astray; they hadn’t taken care to remember and celebrate who they were as a people. They had forgotten their identity as God’s chosen people to bless all of the nations of the world. We, too, must remember to walk in our identity as God’s children or we, likewise, will stray.
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YES, to the devotional!
“The more I read Scripture with the intent to know God, the more it read me.”
We, my dear
Shes.
She Reads Truth (SRT) Sisters in Christ.
We, who “keep opening our Bibles.”
“Women in the Word of God
Everyday!”
Beyond aspirational!
Intentional!
With a resounding AMEN!
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Hi ladies, I am struck by Josiah’s complete 180, or as someone in a comment wrote “a holy house cleaning”. He was grieved by their sin, and then did everything in his power to get rid of it. Some action words I noticed: tore down, burned, crushed, broke, cut down, defiled, eradicated… if only I were as serious when confronted by my own sin. I have to ask myself what sins I hold onto because they aren’t “that bad”. I’m not sacrificing my children to Molek after all. My sins are usually not of the outward kind, Asherah poles, high places, etc… My sins are the ones no one sees, the inner thoughts, resentments, judgements, unforgiveness. Lord, help me to be like Josiah!
Update on my brother: not good. He is on a lot of pain daily – it seems he declines more and more each week. I can’t believe he is still holding on. God is carrying us all as we pray for either complete healing or for the Lord to take him.
❤️ Praying for your brother, Tami, and your family. It’s a hard place to be when praying for the healing and the taking, sometimes in the same breath.
Tami, you, B.J., and the family have been in my prayers. I have prayed that prayer for my own family members. May God cover you all in His peace. ❤
Tami…such a hard journey. Praying
Tami, holding B.J. in my prayers and lifting you up too.. God is with you.. always. ❤️
I have been thinking of you Tami, praying for you and your family. God be with BJ and give him comfort and peace.
I’m praying for BJ, you, and all the family every day. You are in such a hard place. God’s timing is perfect and His strength is perfect! You are loved and cared for, dear sister! ❤️
I just love the devotional today, the stages that the writer described, it is so truthful to the growth cycle of a Christian. There are levels of investments that we need to seriously look and consider. Hint: count the cost if we say no. Every form of transformation starts with awareness. Faith starts by hearing and hearing the Word. Daily bible reading equips the believers with truth to resists temptation, discern falsehood (almost truths), and live out our calling leaning on God’s help and strength. The Bible transforms the mind, shapes our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to reflect Christ more closely. Reading the Bible is not just an intellectual activity, but a relational one. It’s how we hear God’s voice, understand His heart and His emotions, we hear the pain in others’ prayers and stories, and learn to trust Him and comfort others. It teaches us how to interact with our community, our neighbors, and to even go further as we are called to entertain strangers with kindness and generosity. Daily Bible reading serves as a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. When we face tough decisions, relentless warfare, mean persecutions, misunderstandings, enticing temptations, or confusion, God’s Word provides clarity – especially through the lives that had walked before us in this Book. Their downfalls, wrong choices, compromised paths serve as a warning sign (death sign) that we do not have to repeat the same heartbreaks. It helps us navigate life with wisdom and integrity. Life can be so overwhelming, but Scriptures provides hope and comfort in the God who is good, who has control over all things, through the eyes of faith, through the seven times climbing up the height to check for the smallest sign of rain amidst drought. Whether we battle fear, grief, uncertainty, we can look up to the God who can redeem and deliver. Thank you PAOLA BARRERA for your wise words today! (handing you a WOW card- as MARI V and her little munchkins would sweetly do). Be blessed dear sisters.
“Reading the Bible is not just an intellectual activity, but a relational one.” Amen, sister ❤️
Agreeing with every thing you said, MERCY! ❤❤❤
Yes. Thank you for sharing these very wise thoughts, Mercy❤️
Thank you Mercy for your wonderful and teaching words.
Much love.
So good, Amen!
Thank you Mercy for all you shared. Makes me feel so grateful. I am praying for people in other parts of the world who aren’t allowed to have bibles and have no religious freedoms.
I am in my 60’s and continue to be amazed by my spiritual immaturity . I recently came out of a rough season that I am still healing from. It’s as simple as surrendering. While I am consistent with daily reading- prayer, fellowship and study are key. So grateful for SRT.
So glad you’re here! ❤️
You said it well in the last 2 sentences, Linnea! ❤
I relate this thought, Linnea.
So often now I say, the older I get, the more often I read the Bible cover to cover, the more I intentionally study, the more I realize I just simply do not know.
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Happy Wednesday sweet She’s! Hard to believe its already Wednesday! Three days into my summer break and so busy prepping for court, hanging out with friends, BUT mostly, I miss the kiddos! SO MUCH! I watch the video that we made that last week of school every day, and long to see their sweet little faces! They grew SO much from August to June. ONE even bit me at the beginning of the school year and as time passed and I gained her trust, we became SO close, so close! I miss her and all-of-them SO much! I’m praying they will adapt to their new kindergarten teacher well as our class was very “close” These little munchkins grew to love their teacher and I very much as we did them. I am so grateful and blessed with our TK teacher, though she was young, (same age as my son), she was wise beyond her years and yet VERY sweet, even with me! All that to say as I read about Josiah being only 8 years-old, a mere child, and yet “wise” and all that he was able to do because of his love and obedience to God I am “WOW” (ed) WOW and another thing that reminds me of our TK students. Our school was encouraged to hand our WOW cards (yellow card with the word WOW written on it) whenever we saw a child do something that was helpful. I was amazed how much these little ones looked-forward to receiving one and “knew” exactly what it was! They would even ask, “am I getting a WOW card?” whenever they worked hard at cleaning up or helped another student. YEP, I miss them so much! I was privileged to have prayed over them (cubbies before school)
What sweet gestures of giving someone a WOW card. And your heart is so precious.
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Mari V I know this is an older post but hopefully you see this comment! That is so beautiful that you prayed over your littles. I’ll be praying for you during your break !
Josiah, I love the lesson we learn from him. When sin was revealed, He repented and turned away from the sin and led His nation to God!
I pray that I will do the same in my circle if C influence. If we all did, what a revival would break out! May it begin with me!
Praying for all! Have a blessed day!
Rhonda, those notes to your nephew are probably having more impact than you realize!
Oh I so hope so, thank you for that!I never thought I would be writing to a family member as I do the butterflies these past couple of years! I am more bold with him because he can’t “debate” back! lol.
Our guest Pastor this past Sunday talked about how IF the church would step out leading and being the change how it would be an impact!! It made my hubby take notes and he is going to ask his boss if he could present some notes of unity for his crew!! Love it! Be the church beyond the church!!
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CONFESSION:
I went down a rabbit trail today! While it’s always refreshing to read about Josiah and his obedience, I read a little further and noticed the same mother listed twice. I never investigated that until today.
2 kings 23:32 and 2 Kings 24:18 Hamutal, The Mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah.
From Bible Hub:
Family and Background
Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, not to be confused with the prophet Jeremiah. Libnah was a town in the Shephelah, the lowland region of Judah, indicating that Hamutal came from a Levitical city, as Libnah was assigned to the Levites (Joshua 21:13). This connection suggests that Hamutal was likely raised in a religious environment, which may have influenced her sons’ reigns.
Role as Queen Mother
As the wife of King Josiah, one of Judah’s most righteous kings, Hamutal held the esteemed position of queen mother. This role was significant in the royal court, often involving influence over political and religious matters. Her sons, Jehoahaz and Zedekiah, both ascended to the throne during a period of great instability and external threat from the Babylonian Empire.
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Good vs. evil
Upright vs. depraved
So glad we know the rest of the story and are all on the same side! I am reminded of the call to worship:
The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before Him.
Habakkuk 2:18-20
“What good is an idol carved by man,
or a cast image that deceives you?
How foolish to trust in your own creation—
a god that can’t even talk!
19 What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols,
‘Wake up and save us!’
To speechless stone images you say,
‘Rise up and teach us!’
Can an idol tell you what to do?
They may be overlaid with gold and silver,
but they are lifeless inside.
20 But the Lord is in his holy Temple.
Let all the earth be silent before him.”
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Wow. Love it
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Amen!! Thank you, sis! ❤️
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Thank you Cee Gee ❤️
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Oh the power of the word of God! Josiah heard it and it changed his life & his kingship. A great reminder of Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
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But here’s the thing – we must read God’s word in order for it to change our hearts.
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Obviously the Israelite’s didn’t spend much time reading, listening to or observing the law of Moses. And look where it led them to:
.idolatrous priests
.Asherah poles in the temple of the Lord
.male shrine prostitutes
.women weaving for Asherah
.sacrificing their children to Molek
.horses dedicated to the sun
.chariots dedicated to the sun
.idolatrous altar in the temple courts
.high places dedicated to gods and goddesses
.shrines built to false gods
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How could they be so sinful, how could they forget the God who led them to the promised land? It broke God’s heart, it angered Him.
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Yet am I so foolish to think that I don’t break God’s heart, that I don’t anger Him?…May it not be so!
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Father God, help us to pattern our decisions according to what we learn is the desire for Your people. Let us acknowledge the idols of our heart and confess it to You – forsaking them. Let Your word be quick and powerful, living and active in our own lives as it was in Josiah’s. Show us where we can start obeying You today. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Have a blessed Wednesday sweet sisters! ❤️
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I had the same thought Sharon! How powerful is the word of God! And wow how Josiah responded!
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Yes, SJG!
“Let Your word be quick and powerful, living and active in our own lives as it was in Josiah’s.”
My fervent desire.
Amen Sharon ❤️
” Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” James 2:26.
King Josiah could have just read the word and found a nice place to put it afterwards but he got busy. He renewed the covenant that the Israelites had with the living G-d.
He did some serious holy housekeeping,and reinstated the Passover!
“Serious, holy, housecleaning” love that! And he certainly did!
Yep! Love that language too!
Oh how I love today’s scripture and especially how the author of the devotional presented it to us! As I read the scripture it filled my heart as Josiah heard the word of God and his heart ached for Jerusalem for not following it and going so far from it! And then not just aching how far they strayed and repenting, But doing something about it!! Destroying the idols and high places, getting rid of any outward signs and alters!! Oh how I wished this could be done in our own present time and nation!! And in our own temple, ourselves. Clearing out all rebellion, unholy areas, and turning into righteousness!! But it starts with reading his word. Knowing what he declares, what he demands from his followers, his people, his children, his daughter. Whew!! Doesn’t it fire you up! Because it starts with us. And then you influence others by being the light!
I will never be the same since I started the mornings in the word 11 years ago. I wish I would have known the importance in my earlier years. I know it would have changed my wayward direction and saved lots of heartache and pain.
Oh how I want that for my young nephews/nieces, my own son, and grandchildren. But unfortunately we can only make the choices ourselves. As my nephew finds himself in an unlikely place right now, I write him notes to encourage him to seek the Lord. He is not a believer, and probably thinks his aunt is in lala land, yet, little does he realize that every knee will bow one day to the Lord God. That it is not a feel good idea, but a living relationship. That his choices are hurting him dearly, and others in his life. We were all there ourselves before we had an encounter with the Spirit and chose yes. Thank you Jesus, for the seeds that made it come about, the prayers, the love and grace, and beckoning.
Lord we pray for our nation, that we will see our wayward ways, that we will come back to you completely. We pray for our lost family members and friends. We pray that you work in us, refine us and mold us, to be of you fully! We ask forgiveness for our wrong ways and mistakes. We want to pursue whole-heartily only you Lord. Be with each she today and bless them.
Praise God that you
Amen!
Amen ❤️
Amen to your prayer Rhonda. ❤️
Amen
Keep praying.i prayed for my mom 27 years,and finally she got saved,2 years before she slipped into dementia. Trust me, your nephew is listening.
Love that…Praise God!! Never stop planting, watering, and harvesting!!
What a blessing that must have been in what lay ahead!
Couldn’t have said it better. Thank you sweet Rhonda! Joining our SRT sisters, AMEN!!!
❤️ amen Rhonda. You are so sweet. The thoughts you have, are just like the thoughts of God toward the lost. Joining you in prayers for your nephew and family members with wandering and doubting hearts, to find the Maker of their soul.
Praying, Rhonda, that he ‘hears’ the truth in your notes and gives it all over to the Lord. What a huge weight would be lifted with a few words, I’m willing, Lord, rescue me.
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Amen. ❤️
I love this story. Josiah did his best for what he knew- then when his eyes were open to the truth of Gods word – he did his best to follow it with his whole being and led with his new convictions inside his realm of influence.
Lord may I be obedient as You reveal Your word to me. Help me to see clearly Your way- Your truth. Not the world or my own selfish desires.
Where can I start obeying today? That’s my question, my prayer today. I want to be obedient wherever He leads!
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True Repentance Leads to Action.
Josiah doesn’t just say “sorry”—he acts radically to remove sin from the nation. True repentance = broken heart + changed behavior.
I needed that reminder. Sometimes I repent or ask for forgiveness but I make no effort to change my behavior. Whether that be to God or family/friends. If I truly wanted that forgiveness, I’d change. Such a good reminder.
Yes! That’s so good Elise!
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Yes!
Amen❤️
Not only were they worshipping the false gods, they made things for them and images of them and stored them in the temple of the LORD, as well as having designated spaces for evil acts. What?!
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As our bodies are temples of God, what are we storing there that does not honor Him? Are there spaces we attempt to segregate?
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1 Corinthians 3:17
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
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1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
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Josiah removed/destroyed everything – locations, people, animals – connected to the evil being done in Judah, to follow the law of the LORD.
2 Kings 23:25 Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.
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Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
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Let’s love the Lord, sisters!
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back {music notes emoji, but I doubt it will post}
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LAURA – praying for your son and family
CEE GEE – thanks for sharing from NLT, and also Jeremiah ❤️
Yes, I’m singing with you! Doing that song today at jail! Thank you for pointing out that our bodies our the temple…and that means riding it of all things ungodly! Amen! Let everything that is in us…Praise the Lord! Let Everything…that has breath…praise the Lord..Praise the Lord!
Great reminders/prompts, SEARCHING! Thanks for the Scriptures, too! Music emojis never post for me either. Our pastor’s favorite song! ❤
Amen!
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Forgive my sins Lord, Your will not mine. In Jesus name, Amen
So an area of my life where I’m not living according to how God would want me to is my eating habits. I don’t eat enough for my body to function in the way that it should. My fixation/ control in this area of my life needs to be surrendered to God, and it’s proven quite hard because I have the arrogant attitude of thinking that I know best, but deep down I know that I don’t. I hope to rest in scriptural truths on this subject today and in the future. What an example Josiah is in his understanding of who God is! I will be digging into this more
@Mary one of our fellow she’s is a dietitian and I follow her on instagram- her company takes insurance and she can help!! Her instagram handle is @dietitian.liesel and she’s takes a Christian approach- she’s so good!!!
I remember Lisa and follow her as well.
Thank you!! Will check her out :)
Mary, this has been a life-long struggle for me as well. Thankfully, the Lord has provided an amazing Christian counselor who has helped me find healing through the Lord.
This is so amazing to read – thank you Libby and thank you for praying as well
I will pray for you as you work on surrendering this area to the Lord.
Praying for strength and discipline to start eating healthy and make good choices.
I once asked a fellow pastor’s wife how she could pass up sweets and desserts. She said that she asked God to give her the strength, she gave it to Him and ever since she has not had one sweet! How did she do it? She said if she asked God to help her, she couldn’t doubt His power and help….much easier for some than for others to do.
Reminded in today’s reading just how many unholy things had been set up IN the Lord’s Temple! May I be diligent about keeping the idols out of my temple (heart) through daily being in His Word.
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My young mama has an appt with the Housing Authority today about an apartment. Praying she makes headway.
Yes, Kelly, that jumped out at me as well.
Praying for today’s appt and positive outcome.
It is always staggering to read the details of the disobedience/disregard for the One True God. Woe!
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KELLY, I pray God is present in a big way at this appointment today and that young mama will soon have a place to call home! ❤
Prayers for this appt and for your young mama!
Praying for today’s appointment!
Praying for an open door.
“May I be diligent about keeping the idols out of my temple (heart) through daily being in His Word.”
I’m with you, Kelly!
Praying for your young mama appointment today.. that things fall into place for her and that God is ever present in that meeting..
How is the little one? ❤️
This thought of getting into God’s word every day is so ingrained in me that I’ve never missed a day in 40 years. I run to Christ every morning . It’s my song of joy every morning. I’ve done a Journaling Bible for both My g’daughers to be passed down.
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What an amazing gift to give your granddaughters!
That’s amazing! (although it shouldn’t be…oh how more Christians would actually read the word!)
What a gift to your granddaughters!
What a wonderful gift and legacy to pass down to your granddaughters! ❤️
So sweet ❤️
What a blessing for your granddaughters
I love the idea of a journaling Bible for each of my grandkids. I better get busy, I have 7!
Amen
SANDI, that is an awesome testimony!!! And what a gift for your granddaughters! ❤ Love that!
How beautiful, Sandi!
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Help me, Lord, to repent anything that is standing between you and me.
Choosing this day (and every day), to honour God, as I reconfigure the way I live my life, to align with Father God’s heart..
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BUT GOD..
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AMEN.
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Happy Wednesday my dears.. Be blessed. Sending love and prayers acrossthe pond!❤️❤️
Amen! ❤️
Short, yet powerful and right to the point! Thank you Tina.❤️
Always glad to hear from you, Tina!
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Simply & sincerely, Tina!