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2 Kings Chapter 20 (ESV)
1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” 7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”
REFLECTION:
- Please read through the chapter concerning the last years of Hezekiah’s life.
- Hezekiah’s prayer is again powerful in moving God to mercy for both Jerusalem and himself. God remembers the promise to David in answering Hezekiah’s prayer. Prayer stands as the spiritual discipline that moves the heart and hand of God. However, according to the definition in Spiritual Formation Bible, “Prayer is interactive conversation with God about what we and God are thinking and doing together”. Are there conflicts between the two?
- Influenced by the result-driven society, when faced with tough decisions, my tendency to rationalize, develop strategies, reason and argue usually outweighs my desire to seek God for wisdom and help.
- Knowing my tendency and my weakness, how do I pray??
PRAYER:
Use this song as my prayer today. While singing this song, consider how I may have this “interactive conversation with God about what we and God are thinking and doing together”?
[ Every Time I Pray ]
- I will come to You in prayer, I will seek Your face,
I will stand within the gap, There will I intercede. - I am meek and helpless, Lord, You, my strength shall be,
Guide me with Your gracious hand, There will my victory be.
Chorus:
For every time I pray, I move the hand of God,
My prayer does the thing, My hands cannot do,
For every time I pray, The mountains are removed,
The paths are made straight, And nations turn to You.
HYMN:
“Every Time I Pray” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpDK7fTU2vI
