10/2/09

"O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and Hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 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." Isaiah 37:16-20

This is Hezekiah's prayer to God when the king of Assyria was threatening Jerusalem. This is a great prayer because he earnestly asks God to deliver them. But he doesn't want it for selfish reasons, but so that everyone would know that the Lord alone is God. Strive to pray that way. When we pray that way, God answers our prayers. God delivered Jerusalem by killing 185,000 men in the Assyrian army. God may not answer your prayer in the same way. He might not answer it in the way you want, but He does listen to you, and He does love you. Trust that He will do what is best for your life. Just like when we were kids, and we hated when our parents told us "no, you can't have that toy", God knows what is best, and He will make sure it happens.