A Pattern for Prayer

Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. Isaiah 37:14 (New American Standard Bible)

Distressing news comes to all of us at one time or another. What we choose to do with it reveals much about our walk and relationship with God. It reveals what we believe about God's character. I love the fact that Hezekiah took a threatening letter he had received and literally spread it out before God and then proceeded to proclaim the truth about God. What a pattern of prayer in the midst of a storm! (Isaiah 37:15-20)

Just think of the many papers we could spread out before God each day. Mounting bills, emails, our children's report cards, newspaper articles, legal matters, lab results, etc... To then use Hezekiah's prayer as a starter for our own. I notice that his first words proclaim the truth about God. He is the true God. He is the Creator. None compare to Him. None come close. He then spells out the problem to God. Like David so often did in the Psalms, Hezekiah asked for God to open His ears and eyes to his situation. It was true the Assyrians had destroyed other nations but they had yet to fight the true and living God.

Hezekiah's request for deliverance does not surprise me. He is smart to ask God to do what his nation is unable to do. What grabs my attention as I read his prayer is the reason he wants God to intervene...so all the nations will know He alone is God!

It should be no different in each of our lives. God desires our lives to be a platform for His power and identity. As we face trials, difficulties and hardships we show the world that God is our strength, sustainer, and security. I find Scripture is full of prayers that ask God to move mightily on behalf of His children. And He did! It is time we took these prayers and allowed them to once again be spoken to a living God. Spoken over our situations. Spoken over our families. Spoken over our lives.

Father, may I see that You are the same God who was moved to act on behalf of Your children. Empower me to bring requests to You with boldness and assurance. You are still God! Amen.

What a Faithful God - Robert Critchley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLEgyKpzyUw&feature=related

Fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!