Have you ever thought ‘Oh, well, it’s God’s will—God is going to do what God is going to do’?
Are you tempted to think prayer won’t change anything, so why bother—as if God has already decided what He is going to do?
THAT’S FALSE!
What God has DECIDED is that PRAYER WORKS! What He has decided is that He will be moved—PERSUADED—by our prayers.
You know what God’s will is? GOD’S WILL IS THAT HE WILL CHANGE HIS MIND WHEN WE PRAY.
“In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah came and said, ‘This is what the LORD says, ‘Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die. You will not recover.’ “Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. He said, ‘Please Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly, and have done what pleases you.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly” 2 Kings 20:1-3.
Imagine! God pronounces a sentence of death: “You are about to die.” But Hezekiah prayed anyway—and it was not even an impressive prayer, was it?
“Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the Lord came to him: ‘Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: ‘I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you…. I will add 15 years to your life” vv.4-6.
So God pronounces the imminent death of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah prays a quick prayer and weeps bitterly. And what happened?
GOD CHANGED HIS MIND! Imagine that!
“Pray without ceasing—never give up!” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
God, remind us that PRAYER WORKS—that Your will is to respond to our prayers!
ΑΩ
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