Friday, July 10, 2009

JUST A TEST
Make up reading from
Wk 7 Day 6

Isaiah 38:2-8

2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 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. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

7 " 'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: 8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.' " So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.

  • Hezekiah was sick and was supposed to die.
  • The prophet Isaiah came to tell him to put his house in order because he was going to die.
  • Hezekiah cried out to God and "reminded" the Lord of how he's lived his life.
  • The Lord delivered him from sickness and added more years to his life.
Even in situations like these, we know that God is able to deliver us. He is able to turn things around and do a miracle. What are the truths we find here:

  • God, in His foreknowledge already knew what he was going to do for Hezekiah.
  • It's a possibility that God was just testing how Hezekiah would react to his situation. He didn't lose hope and he definitely looked to God for comfort.
  • Praise God, Hezekiah did utter words of prayers to God that would bring his healing and add more years to his life, even.
  • Not only God healed him but have delivered the city and defended the city for them.
  • God's words were backed up by a sign - the Lord is just so good!
For me:

At times when it seems like I already don't have control over a situation, I know that I can trust God. May I be able to say "I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." My goal is to just delight myself in the Lord - truly be faithful in my walk with him and devotion to him. God may be testing me right now on how much I will trust in Him. Yes, I have fallen so many times and have gotten in the way of God's will for my life by controlling situations. I must not! I will just let things be and allow the work of God to manifest. I will be faithful in my ministry, my family, my daily activities, spend time with God and be productive in my life, faithful in walking the walk esp in the areas in which I need to change - big or small.

Lord God, You are indeed awesome. I pray that you will guide me - my heart, my thoughts and my life to always be faithful to you. Forgive me for the times when I get in the way of your plans. I pray that you help me to be very passionate in my devotion to You. Help me not to mind what people will say to me but only what is pleasing to you. Thank you Lord. Thank you for helping me see the big picture. Continue to give me the ability to see it even clearly that whatever temptation that will get in the way will not move me away from your path. I worship you for who You are - faithful and forgiving God, my guide, my shield, my future. In Jesus' name, amen.