“It is said by many people that God does not do anything supernatural in answer to prayer; that the God of nature moves right on and never changes His decrees. Read the first six verses of the 20th chapter of 2nd Kings, and see – “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death: and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah, the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears, behold I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord, and I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the King of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”
Was not that a direct answer to prayer? Hezekiah was only praying for his own life; we are come together to pray for the life of others, and not their temporal but their eternal welfare. He was not praying for Christ’s sake as we now do, but we can come to-day and ask God to save the souls of men for Christ’s sake, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the beloved Son. He loves to see Christ honored. We can come now and ask Him to save souls, that it might bring glory and honor to the Son of His bosom, and glory and honor to the Son He delights to honor. “I will,” He says to Hezekiah, “defend the city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” That is only one instance.” ~ D.L. Moody
Have you ever thought about praying for Christ’s sake rather than your own? This focus in prayer may turn your prayer life upside down. The testing, trials, sorrow, and hardships in your own life may be exactly what honors and glorifies Jesus. Would we pray for them to go away or pray for more, for His sake? Would we pray for souls to be saved and truly offer ourselves for His glory? (By Josh Wilcox)
