The blanket of prayer
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 18, 19, 20
2 Kings 19:14-16a; 31 (NIV)
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see.”
31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
2 Kings 20:4-5a (NIV)
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.
Good morning!
Do you like fireworks? I enjoy going to the river with my family at night to watch the light display. We sit under the stars and enjoy the amazing beauty of each firework, as it explodes in the sky above us. I think the best way to observe an evening of fireworks is to take a blanket and spread it out over the hardened and dry ground. By mid-summer, the dirt and rocks are hard and brittle. It is much easier to sit on the ground, if you have a nice, soft blanket to sit on. I personally enjoy laying down on the blanket and simply looking up, so that I can take in each flicker of light in the night sky.
I really like Hezekiah. He was a true prayer warrior. Understanding the power of petitioning the Father for every need, Hezekiah went to the temple to spread it all out at His feet. How often do we go to our churches and places of worship just to sit at the foot of the cross, and lay out our burdens before the only One who can heal and forgive us? The next time you stop to pray, think about taking your heart-felt petitions and shaking them out, like you would a blanket, over the hard and rocky places of your life. Lay yourself down on that blanket of prayer and look up with expectancy. You will find yourself amazed as you delight in seeing the Lord’s light show from up above.
Prayer is such a privilege. Do not let it become a simple daily duty to fulfill. Prayer is intimate relationship with the Father, through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has made a way for us to come into the throne room every day; a place where we can pour out our heart and soul’s desire before Him. There are times when I’m not sure exactly what to pray for. I look at my prayer list, which grows longer every morning, and I am confident that every burden, every need there will be met by my Jesus. Praying for His will in all things is a prayer I delight in. I’m so glad I do not have all the answers. I don’t need them, because I have the only answer that matters. I have Jesus, and He is more than enough for all of us. Are you praying for a lost soul today? There is nothing that breaks my heart more than seeing someone suffer from the consequences of sin. Jesus died for people just like you and me, who struggle with the things that keep us separated from His presence. When we choose to yield our life to Him, as we cry out in faith, “Okay Lord, I’m going to do this your way.” It is in that precious moment of surrender that we begin to see the beauty of His love and how His blood can heal a battered and broken heart. Talk about fireworks! There is nothing more beautiful that receiving complete forgiveness and healing. Prayer is relationship at its best. Holy moments are just waiting to happen. Are you looking up today?
Jesus hears you. He loves you. He will answer your every prayer prayed in faith today. Spread it all out at the foot of the cross. Give Him your every care. Trust Him for the answer. Stand upon His holy Word. Lay on it. Look up and see what the Lord Jesus Christ can do for you!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: fireworks! If you are willing to yield your life completely to the Lord today, His love will take you places you cannot even begin to imagine. Won’t you spread your prayers before the foot of the cross, lay yourself down on them, and look up with expectancy. Have faith and believe that with Jesus Christ, all things are possible!
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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