Has Your Day Gone As Planned?

A few days ago I was reading Isaiah in my quiet time and was struck by the importance of immediate prayer when I receive bad news or my day doesn’t go according to my plan.  Let me explain.

In Isaiah 37, Sennacherib’s messengers tell Hezekiah not to trust in God.  Sennacherib is the Assyrian king who has conquered all the nations around Israel.  He assumes he will conquer Hezekiah and Israel as well.

When Hezekiah receives the messengers’ letter, he “spreads it before the Lord.  Then Hezekaih prayed to the Lord” (Isa 37:14-15)  He didn’t talk to his trusted advisors. He didn’t cry.  He didn’t try to solve the problem himself.

WOW!  King Hezekiah’s first instinct was to PRAY.  In my imagination I see Hezekiah spreading the pages of the letter on the floor and kneeling!

O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone of all the kingdoms of the earth.  you have made heaven and earth.  Incline Your ear, O Lord and hear…

Hezekiah recognizes our Lord’s sovereignty and His ability to work through “bad news”.

I was greatly convicted of my initial response to bad news.  Do I immediately go to prayer and trust God to take care of my problems.  Sooner or later I will pray, but prayer isn’t always my initial response.

What is your initial response to even small pieces of bad news during your day?

On yeah, God does answer Hezekiah’s prayer.  God recounts what He has done for Israel and concludes that Sennacherib will not enter the city.  In fact, 185,000 soldiers of Sennacherib are killed that night.  When Sennacherib returns to his palace, his sons kill him.

I guess God took care of Hezekiah’s bad news.

Even if you don’t have really bad news, spend time this week in prayer when your day doesn’t go smoothly…when your kids don’t respond the way you desire…when small emergencies arise and mess up your schedule.

Blessings,
Kerry

ps.  This lesson of immediate prayer is exactly what young leaders need to learn. Are you raising a leader that will turn to God in prayer?
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