SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth … Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.” [2 Kings 19:14,15,19]
I like the idea of Hezekiah spreading the message before the Lord.
This is something we can do with a layoff notice, a poor report card, a court summons, a disturbing news story.
This is something we can do with anything want to talk with Him about.
He lays his situation before the Lord, and relies on Him for help.
Notice also the similarity between his prayer and Jesus’ prayer.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ‘ [Matthew 6:9-13]
God is the holy God, hallowed among the cherubim, ruler of heaven and earth, and the one to deliver us from the evil one.
In this story, God intervenes, clearly, directly.
He makes a way where there seems to be no way.
There are no guarantees that God will answer our prayer the way we need or want Him to… but there is this confidence that God will answer our prayer in the best way possible.
And don’t rule out that He will give the miracle that we need and desire.
I know for myself I often ask, yet doubt at the same time that His answer will be the one I want.
Its almost as if I am preparing myself for God’s ‘better’ answer, which is the harder one.
The key is not how to pray so that you get what you want, but how to pray openly and honestly before the Lord, trusting Him for His goodness and mercy.
Today, spread out your praises and petitions before the Lord, then leave it in His hands.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to pray simply, honestly, eagerly, like Hezekiah. Hear my prayer, Lord.
Today God Is First. How do I show that or live that each and every day?
I need to do as Heze did – lay out my prayers and petitions and praises before the Lord, my God. I need to prayer walk my life. I need to speak often with my Lord. I need Him every hour and I need to show that, live that always so that my knowing becomes my doing.
Decisions are being made at school and the Crisis Center and I am involved with both. I need to lay it all before the Lord and let Him lead me and guide me in the way to go. His will be done in my life. His will be done. Just go forward trusting and obeying His will for my life. I am not my own but belong to Jesus!
Our Father. My Father in heaven, Your will be done this day.
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above