My Prayer

As I was reading 2 Chronicles during my quiet time, one incident caught my attention. King Hezekiah was one of the good kings of Judah. The Bible says about king Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 as follows:  " … he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God.  And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered."God also answered Hezekiah's prayer for an extension of life. The Bible says, "But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up….” (2 Chronicles 32:25).  Later, Hezekiah realized his mistake and humbled himself, and God said that in Hezekiah's time, He would not bring about the punishment. But when the ambassadors from Babylon came inquiring about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

King Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah, was one of the worst kings of Judah. So Hezekiah's commitment to obey God has to be appreciated.  But with much success, pride entered his heart. He must have forgotten for an instant that what he was, was just because of God.  And God withdrew from him to know what is in his heart!  When things work out well, when our children turn out well, when our lives turn out well, we might be tempted to think that we did everything right!  No.  What we have is because of God's grace and mercy only.  We have to realize that God has blessed our children and us despite many transgressions on our part.  Despite so many wrong choices, God has been merciful to us. The phrase that caught my attention was, "God withdrew from him."  When Hezekiah's heart was lifted up again, God withdrew from him. Instead of magnifying God, he magnified himself by showing off his wealth and accomplishments!  Today my prayer is that I will be humble always, give glory to God alone in everything and that God will never have to leave me to know my heart!

My friend, the Lord, has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us.  Let us pray every morning when we wake up, not only for His guidance, protection, and provision but also that He will never leave us even to test us!  

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