God Answers Prayer

I’ve prayed many times for many different things. I didn’t always get the answer from the Lord that I wanted. Christmas time is a time when lots of kids “pray” for certain thing to be under the tree. I’ve prayed prayers for blessings on others or myself. I’ve prayed desperate prayers. I believe without doubt that the Lord answers prayers.

Isaiah records a couple of desperate prayers of King Hezekiah of Judah and his faith was somewhat weak. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threatened his kingdom. He received the first threat from Sennacherib and took it to Isaiah. Check this out…

“….Maybe the Lord your God will hear what the commander said and will punish him for it. So pray for the few of us who are left alive.” (Isaiah 37:4b NCV)

The word “maybe” doesn’t speak of stalwart faith to me.  Meanwhile the king of Assyria goes to fight another battle, but sends word to King Hezekiah that he will be back and God can’t save him. He makes this threat in the form of a letter. Hezekiah takes the letter to the Temple of the Lord and spreads it out before Him and prays a very intense prayer.  He makes several declarations about Who God is and then straight up asks God to save him and Judah.

20 Now, Lord our God, save us from the king’s power so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.” (Isaiah 37:20 NCV)

I love the faith of the King. I love to see the earnest prayer and the practical way he simply spreads the threat before the Lord and asked for His intervention. He cries out to God – the ONLY ONE Who can save Him.

What happens next is simply cool and affirming for King Hezekiah. The Lord answers His prayer with promises and great details of what is still coming. The Lord had evidently promised punishment on the people of Judah for their misbehavior. However after Hezekiah’s prayer, it would not be delivered through the arrogant and pompous king of Assyria. Check out part of the Lord’s response to Hezekiah’s desperate prayer….

33 “So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:

‘He will not enter this city or even shoot an arrow here.
He will not fight against it with shields
 or build a ramp to attack the city walls.

34 He will return to his country the same way he came,
 and he will not enter this city,’
  says the Lord.

35 ‘I will defend and save this city
  for my sake and for David, my servant.’”

36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and killed one hundred eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria left and went back to Nineveh and stayed there. (Isaiah 37:33-37 NCV)

I’m learning to pray to God about everything and then trust Him with the outcome. It’s not so hard to pray, but it EXTREMLY HARD to trust Him with the results. Often the answer the Lord gives is not obvious. Sometimes His answer is not written down like Hezekiah’s was. I often have to listen and wait for the Lord’s answer to unfold. I do believe this – God hears every prayer. God answers every prayer.  Sometimes His answer is “no”; sometimes it’s “yes”; and sometimes the answer is “wait” or “not yet”. I’m trying to get to know the Lord on a deep level where I’m learning to completely TRUST HIM with my life and my deepest worries. He is faithful. He is patient. He is full of mercy and grace. He hears every cry of my heart. He is not going to jump, just because I ask Him too. He will answer my prayer with His Will and my eternity in full view!  He is simply indescribable and amazing!

Pressing On!

Dwayne