July 19: Isaiah 38:1-8
Key Verse: Isaiah 38:5
“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.
Devotion:
When Hezekiah was very ill and about to die, Isaiah was sent to him to tell him to put his financial affairs in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah wept bitterly and cried out to God silently to allow him to live a bit longer. God heard his prayers and sent Isaiah back to tell him they had an additional 15 years!
God hears our prayers and answers them! But I want to remind you here of the genuine nature of Hezekiah’s prayers; they were not some off-the-cuff talk with God to try and get a bit more out of life but an earnest plea with God to allow him to live a bit more. God was listening to every moment of that prayer and saw the tears. He had compassion on Hezekiah and answered those prayers showing mercy!
This does not give us the right to ask for longer lives or more money or other one-off things which are of no importance in the house of God. God knew Hezekiah was going to do more work for Him to advance the Word of God; that is why He was willing to grant more years for Hezekiah.
God is always going to listen to our prayers. He always hears them. He always answers them in one form or another. How we deal with those answers and what we do to give God the glory is what will make all the difference! I love to tell people how God has supported me and given me a longer life when all the doctors thought otherwise – because God gets the glory!
Points to Ponder:
What do you ask for in your prayers?
How much do you give God the glory for your life?
