It Happened in PrayerSample

A prayer that I think we all will be encouraged by is King Hezekiah’s in 2 Kings 20. The Bible describes Hezekiah as being near death. The prophet Isaiah tells him to “set his house in order because he shall die and not live”—such a harsh word from the Lord. The next verse informs us that Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed. In this prayer, Hezekiah reminds the Lord how he has walked before Him truthfully, with a loyal heart, and done good in His sight.

The Bible then says that before Isaiah left the middle court (palace), the word of the Lord came to him to go back and tell Hezekiah that He heard his prayer, saw his tears, and would heal him. God didn’t stop there, though. He also told Hezekiah that he would add 15 years to his life and deliver him and the city from their enemies. Who wouldn’t sign up for that deal?!

The prayer of Hezekiah shows us how faithful God is. When you walk upright before the Lord, He takes note, and you can recall to Him just how committed to Him you are. Note that it doesn’t mention Hezekiah asking God to heal him, add years to his life, or defeat his enemies, but God saw fit to exceed his petition because of Hezekiah’s devotion to Him. It happened in Hezekiah’s prayer that God was moved to recall that Hezekiah was a worshiper, and He honored that.

May this prayer encourage you to remember that God is pleased as you take the righteous path. Even if you say, “Well, Chae, I haven’t been the most righteous,” remember that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It is not your works but your faith in Jesus and heart to serve the Lord. Just as the answer came to Isaiah before he could leave the palace, may the answer you need be on the way to you before you finish praying.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, as a devoted child of God and righteous through Christ Jesus, I pray my devotion to you speaks for me in my prayers. I pray you recall how I have lived and postured my heart before you righteously and incline your ear to my prayer. Thank you for being better to me than I’ve been to myself. In Jesus name, amen.