1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 “Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler 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. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.
What I find particularly relevant in this passage is the thought of what would have happened to Hezekiah had he NOT prayed. God had already told him that he would not recover. That he would die. How many of us in that situation would have just accepted God's word and said "So be it"? The fact that God responds to prayer and changes his plans for us accordingly should give us more than enough reason to persevere in prayer. Not that God will always answer according to our wishes, but one thing is for sure - we have not because we ask not! So keep praying and keep believing. Who knows what God may have in store for you in answer to your prayers?
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