~~~ 2 Kings 19: 9b-11,14-21, 31-35a, 36 ~~~ Psalm 48 ~~~ Matt. 7:6, 12-14 ~~~
Hezekiah... went up to the temple of the LORD,
...he prayed in the LORD's presence:
...he prayed in the LORD's presence:
"...Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Sometimes it seems as though your prayers are just a waste of time.
Sometimes it seems as though no one is out there listening.
I have felt like asking, 'Are you there, Lord?'
'Do you see me?
Hezekiah laid his concerns first on the ground before the Lord.
Then he began his prayer by giving praise to God for his being wonderful and almighty. Never hurts to complement before you make your request. That even works todya in the corporate world. Anyway it is most appropriate when praying to God.
After praising God he wastes no time getting to the reason for his prayer.
He is respectful and intense at the same time in his prayer.
Sometimes I want to say 'Lord, can you see what is happening here?'
Surprisingly to Hezekiah, but not common today, he gets an answer right away.
The timing in the Bible is so misleading but makes a point...God does answer your prayers...jus maybe not immediately.
The Gospel of Matthew speaks of the narrow gate:
Hezekiah laid his concerns first on the ground before the Lord.
Then he began his prayer by giving praise to God for his being wonderful and almighty. Never hurts to complement before you make your request. That even works todya in the corporate world. Anyway it is most appropriate when praying to God.
After praising God he wastes no time getting to the reason for his prayer.
He is respectful and intense at the same time in his prayer.
Sometimes I want to say 'Lord, can you see what is happening here?'
Surprisingly to Hezekiah, but not common today, he gets an answer right away.
The timing in the Bible is so misleading but makes a point...God does answer your prayers...jus maybe not immediately.
The Gospel of Matthew speaks of the narrow gate:
"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."
It takes vigilance and courage to consistently do the right thing, which may suggest the narrow gate concept. As weak humans it is tempting at times to take the easy way out.
It takes sacrifice to then stay on the road to life. We are speaking of eternal life here;
attainable through diligent practice of loving one another and treating them the way you would want to be treated. Sound familiar? It should.
It takes sacrifice to then stay on the road to life. We are speaking of eternal life here;
attainable through diligent practice of loving one another and treating them the way you would want to be treated. Sound familiar? It should.
We can use this image of a gate and expand it to include any entrance or doorway
as a reminder of our chosen path of life.
We are here for one purpose to love God and get ourselves through the narrow gate
by loving others.
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