This brings to mind when my Mom was on hospice and it looked (to all of us) as if she was going to die and I and all the family came together for what we thought was going to be her last birthday with us. I ask her asked (as she mustered up enough breath to blow out the candles)'"What did she ask God for? " Of course she didn't have enough breath to blow out her candles and we helped her. She said, "I asked the Lord for 10 more years". That was on her 82nd birthday. Fastforward to 2022 . Mom just passed away this month at 93rd years old . During the past 10 years of her life; after she was ( discharged from hospice ,and walked again after being bed bound for 2 years on hospice); she saw many more grand children be born and enjoyed every minute of life. Who knew?? God knew !! Perfect will ,Permissive will . I am a believer. More so than ever now as I get older. I try to remember . It was Hezekiah's prayer. It was my Mom's prayer. Psalm 37:4 KJV Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Such an insightful message. Prayer is serious business indeed. Lord teach me to pray in light of and submitted to Your perfect will. Lord please teach us to pray aright.
Thanks, Pasto Miles. Lots to think about. I've often pondered that passage where God extends Hezekiah's life, as I have prayed for very sick friends and relatives. I pray for extension of life and/or healing, but accept God's perfect will.
I knew you would bring this up. Thank you - and for doing such a good job in explaining it. I too think God's perfect will was to spare King H from seeing what would take place. From the last of the glorious kingdoms, from the rich heritage, from the last time the tribes were ever together, to the dragging off and taking away of Israel as Moses predicted. Follow God, keep His commands, dwell in the land in peace, secure, and live, be blessed. Do as you wish, and the very same things that got the Canaanites evicted whoring idolatry, will also be your fate in being cursed. Not only did Israel do bad, but they also did worse than their predecessors. Yes, it took time, that promise we will do all the Lord commands of us 3x was quickly forgotten and abandoned. So I think God was being GENEROUS and KIND to take King Hezekiah when He had planned to, but since the king reminded God - praying w the Word and promises, God spared his life, and delivered him 185,000 by one angel, from sure and certain death and defeat at the hands of the enemy. So God permitted it, and when we seek God, if there is a way, He wills for it to happen. God is good and kind, no matter the outcome, so long as He is glorified at the end of the day. All results are in His hands.
Amen - the purpose of prayer is not to bend God to get Him to do what we want, but that we would align to His will. We SERVE God, not the other way around. He is kind and merciful and graceful to us, but let us take heed not to provoke or take advantage in abusing God being nice to us.
I agree w Miles, he has shown himself to be erudite and a student of God's word. I praise God the people of San Diego have such a capable shepherd, you are blessed.
While Miles may not be "all-knowing" I am impressed by how dedicated he is, and how much he does "know" reminds me so much of my Bible college friend and roommate who has now been w the Lord a few years.
I love how you bring us into King Hezekiah's shoes here into his chambers, the kingdom is becoming swiss cheese, and on top of it, getting too sick to the point of dying to deal with it, must have been miserable. We should have mercy on one another and the compassion to put yourself in their shoes and circumstances to gain understanding and empathy.
LOL - for those clicking dislike above ... beware of falling lightning bolts from above (just kidding) but you get the gist, God's permissive will. Miles is spot on. While God may need no defense, nor His word, I stand w my brother(s) in unity, in the midst of any controversies. I have often found when confused about a passage and context, keep on reading, keep on reading, keep on reading. God explains and reveals Himself in His word when we do.
Amen - all our plans (should be His) but if the Lord wills we then can look forward to the day ahead, if not, there will not be anything to look forward to, right?
Every word of God is true - James 5:16 - Confess therefore your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. [The] fervent supplication of the righteous [man] has much power. Therefore, as Miles says, our prayers do have power. If it were not so, why then did Jesus urge us to ask, ask, and ask again, to seek so we might find. Even tho our Heavenly Father knows I think prayer reminds "us" what we did, what we asked for, and when it comes to fruition our reminder to give GOD thanks and the glory.
This brings to mind when my Mom was on hospice and it looked (to all of us) as if she was going to die and I and all the family came together for what we thought was going to be her last birthday with us. I ask her asked (as she mustered up enough breath to blow out the candles)'"What did she ask God for? " Of course she didn't have enough breath to blow out her candles and we helped her. She said, "I asked the Lord for 10 more years". That was on her 82nd birthday. Fastforward to 2022 . Mom just passed away this month at 93rd years old . During the past 10 years of her life; after she was ( discharged from hospice ,and walked again after being bed bound for 2 years on hospice); she saw many more grand children be born and enjoyed every minute of life. Who knew?? God knew !! Perfect will ,Permissive will . I am a believer. More so than ever now as I get older. I try to remember . It was Hezekiah's prayer. It was my Mom's prayer. Psalm 37:4 KJV Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Such an insightful message. Prayer is serious business indeed. Lord teach me to pray in light of and submitted to Your perfect will. Lord please teach us to pray aright.
Thanks, Pasto Miles. Lots to think about. I've often pondered that passage where God extends Hezekiah's life, as I have prayed for very sick friends and relatives. I pray for extension of life and/or healing, but accept God's perfect will.
I knew you would bring this up. Thank you - and for doing such a good job in explaining it. I too think God's perfect will was to spare King H from seeing what would take place. From the last of the glorious kingdoms, from the rich heritage, from the last time the tribes were ever together, to the dragging off and taking away of Israel as Moses predicted. Follow God, keep His commands, dwell in the land in peace, secure, and live, be blessed. Do as you wish, and the very same things that got the Canaanites evicted whoring idolatry, will also be your fate in being cursed. Not only did Israel do bad, but they also did worse than their predecessors. Yes, it took time, that promise we will do all the Lord commands of us 3x was quickly forgotten and abandoned. So I think God was being GENEROUS and KIND to take King Hezekiah when He had planned to, but since the king reminded God - praying w the Word and promises, God spared his life, and delivered him 185,000 by one angel, from sure and certain death and defeat at the hands of the enemy. So God permitted it, and when we seek God, if there is a way, He wills for it to happen. God is good and kind, no matter the outcome, so long as He is glorified at the end of the day. All results are in His hands.
Amen - the purpose of prayer is not to bend God to get Him to do what we want, but that we would align to His will. We SERVE God, not the other way around. He is kind and merciful and graceful to us, but let us take heed not to provoke or take advantage in abusing God being nice to us.
I agree w Miles, he has shown himself to be erudite and a student of God's word. I praise God the people of San Diego have such a capable shepherd, you are blessed.
While Miles may not be "all-knowing" I am impressed by how dedicated he is, and how much he does "know" reminds me so much of my Bible college friend and roommate who has now been w the Lord a few years.
I love how you bring us into King Hezekiah's shoes here into his chambers, the kingdom is becoming swiss cheese, and on top of it, getting too sick to the point of dying to deal with it, must have been miserable. We should have mercy on one another and the compassion to put yourself in their shoes and circumstances to gain understanding and empathy.
LOL - for those clicking dislike above ... beware of falling lightning bolts from above (just kidding) but you get the gist, God's permissive will. Miles is spot on. While God may need no defense, nor His word, I stand w my brother(s) in unity, in the midst of any controversies. I have often found when confused about a passage and context, keep on reading, keep on reading, keep on reading. God explains and reveals Himself in His word when we do.
Amen - all our plans (should be His) but if the Lord wills we then can look forward to the day ahead, if not, there will not be anything to look forward to, right?
Every word of God is true - James 5:16 - Confess therefore your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. [The] fervent supplication of the righteous [man] has much power. Therefore, as Miles says, our prayers do have power. If it were not so, why then did Jesus urge us to ask, ask, and ask again, to seek so we might find. Even tho our Heavenly Father knows I think prayer reminds "us" what we did, what we asked for, and when it comes to fruition our reminder to give GOD thanks and the glory.