Daily Devotion August 21

August 21: 2 Chronicles 32:24-26

KJV Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 32:25
25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up : therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Devotion:
Hezekiah was a very sick king and knew all too well he would die before long. His physicians would have told him so and he would have no reason to doubt them; but then God sent Isaiah to come and tell him to get his house in order because he would be dead soon! What would you do if someone came and told you that God said you would be dead soon? Hezekiah did not just give up and accept what was going to happen to him. Instead he knelt down before God and prayed in earnest begging God to change his situation.

There are going to be times when we think the end is on our doorstep and the only way out is going to be via a miracle. Well, God is the God of miracles and nothing is impossible for Him. When Hezekiah pleaded with God it must have been straight from his heart because God listened. He allowed Hezekiah to have a few more years because He could see Hezekiah was going to change his ways.

If we are coming to God and asking for something rather special, we had better be sure we are going to give the glory to God and not take it on ourselves as a nice reward or something we have done. God wants to bless us but we have got to be sure we know who is doing the blessing in the first place!

I would love to think that my prayers would be answered instantly and I could go round asking God to heal the people around me just as Jesus did. So what is holding me back? Well, lack of faith at times. Sin at other times. Not giving God the glory at other times. A whole lot of pride most of the time! I know I should give God the glory, but when things do go right I do often take on some of that glory that belongs to God alone. It is a very human thing to do and one we need to give back to God!

Points to Ponder:
Do you know God listening to your prayers?

Are you going to give God all of the glory?