April 15 — High Places

The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections
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Apr 15
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
2 Chronicles 15:17
"The high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days"

High Places

Israel’s “high places” were altars built on hills where people worshiped anything and everything except the Lord. God had told His people to remove them, yet many remained standing. They were visible reminders of divided loyalty — places where obedience stopped short.

Asa loved God. Scripture says his heart was loyal. But even with a loyal heart, he left certain things untouched. That gap is what this passage exposes. It is possible to be sincere and still hold on to areas we quietly excuse.

A “high place” today isn’t a stone altar. It’s any part of life we protect even though God has already spoken to us about it. It may be something outward and obvious, or something inward and hidden. It may sit on a shelf, in a drawer, in a habit, or in an attitude. The issue is not the object itself — the issue is the obedience we withhold.

God is patient. He keeps bringing the same matter to our attention, not to shame us, but because He intends to form Christ in us. When He causes doubt about something, that doubt is not random. It is His invitation to trust Him with the very place we’ve been avoiding.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen on mountaintops alone. It happens in the small, easily ignored places where we choose to pay attention. God wants us entirely His, and that requires noticing what He keeps pointing to — and letting Him deal with it.

Breath Prayer

“Lord, make me attentive to You.”

May His Spirit keep you attentive in the small places.
~ Quil

Scripture References

1. “Israel’s high places were altars built on hills where people worshiped anything and everything except the Lord.”
   2 Kings 17:10–11 — they set up sacred pillars and burned incense on high places.
   1 Kings 14:23 — they built high places on every high hill.
   Deuteronomy 12:2 — destroy all the high places.

2. “God had told His people to remove them, yet many remained standing.”
   2 Kings 23:13 — the king defiled the high places.
   2 Chronicles 14:3 — Asa removed the altars and high places.
   2 Chronicles 15:17 — the high places were not removed.

3. “It is possible to be sincere and still hold on to areas we quietly excuse.”
   Psalm 139:23–24 — search me and know my heart.
   James 1:22 — be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
   Luke 6:46 — why call Me Lord and not do what I say.

4. “A high place today is any part of life we protect even though God has spoken to us about it.”
   Ezekiel 14:3 — idols in the heart.
   Hebrews 12:1 — lay aside every weight and sin.
   1 John 5:21 — keep yourselves from idols.

5. “God is patient. He keeps bringing the same matter to our attention… He intends to form Christ in us.”
   Philippians 1:6 — He who began a good work will complete it.
   Galatians 4:19 — Christ formed in you.
   Romans 2:4 — His kindness leads to repentance.

6. “When He causes doubt about something, that doubt is His invitation.”
   John 16:8 — the Spirit convicts.
   Isaiah 30:21 — this is the way, walk in it.
   Psalm 32:8 — I will instruct you and teach you.

7. “Spiritual growth happens in the small, easily ignored places where we choose to pay attention.”
   Luke 16:10 — faithful in little, faithful in much.
   Song of Solomon 2:15 — little foxes spoil the vines.
   Proverbs 4:23 — guard your heart.

8. “God wants us entirely His, and that requires noticing what He keeps pointing to.”
   James 4:8 — draw near to God.
   Romans 12:1 — present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
   1 Peter 1:15 — be holy in all your conduct.