(Isaiah 36-38) Read it!
Hezekiah, the king of Judah, heard how the king of Assyria overthrew the Northern Kingdom and took them into captivity. The King of Assyria sent a message to Hezekiah threating to overthrow Judah just like he did the Northern Kingdom (Isaiah 36). Hezekiah asked Isaiah the prophet to pray on his behalf. God sent a word through Isaiah and told Hezekiah, “Do not be afraid of the words from the king of Assyria. Surely, I will send a spirit upon him. He shall hear a rumor and I will cause him to fall by the sword of his own land” (Isa.37:7). WOW!
When you are a child of God, you must know that God got your back. The enemy cannot do anything to you unless God give him permission. And when (not IF) …you experience times of testing and you cannot pray for yourself, call on somebody who can get a prayer through to God. God delivered on His promise to Hezekiah. The Assyrian king was unsuccessful in his attempt to overtake Judah.
Hezekiah and all the folks from Judah praised God for delivering them from the hand of the Assyrians. All was going well, but Hezekiah got sick and was about to die. Prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah and said, “Get your house in order because you are going to die.” (Isa.38:1). This was a personal “up-in-your-face “situation. This time Hezekiah did not ask Isaiah to pray for him. But Hezekiah “turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord.” And God heard his prayer and gave Hezekiah fifteen more years of life (Isa. 38:5).
Have you ever experienced a time when things were going well in your life? It seemed like God’s blessings were flowing in your life like a fertile spring season. Then suddenly, trouble cropped up. It is like the enemy threw a rock that caused a “ripple” in your peace. Your ripple could be the time you received a “pink slip” from your boss after sacrificing time from your family to meet deadlines. Your ripple could be the day you were served divorce papers on your anniversary day, a bad doctor's report, or a child committing suicide. Perhaps you have considered the same thought. All of these issues can cause the strongest Christian to cast doubt on their faith in God. That’s a real place to be.
If you can relate to any of these issues, God want you to know, He hear you. He knows your name and He know your pain. He sees you. You are not alone. When Hezekiah received the news that he was going to die he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. He did not give up on life. But he prayed to the One who is the Giver of life: God.
If you are reading this message, everyday you wake up, God is extending your life for a purpose. The enemy wants you to feel like you have no value. But God sent His Son to die for you because in God’s eyes… you are worth every drop of blood that Jesus shed on the Cross for you. Woman of God…turn your face to the wall. Pray, fast, weep, praise and then pray some more. Don’t give up! Fight for your life in prayer. Then watch how God will bless you every time you wake up.
For His glory…
Written by Sandra Kelley 3/15/2024
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