Pray or Dismay

 

Hezekiah received the letter

from the hand of the messengers

             and read it,

and Hezekiah went up

    to the house of the LORD

and spread it before the LORD.

And Hezekiah prayed

           before the LORD....

              2 Kings 19. 14-15

(His first line of defense --

                  and ours:

spread it before the LORD,

      every detail.

Not just lay it there,

        not just pray about it,

        but pray through it.

The very act of praying

   does not change God,

nor even the circumstances,

but God changes us

  and draws us closer to Him.

We spread out our dilemma

           before God,

and He spreads His covering

           over us.

We see differently.

We respond differently.

First response,

         not last resort.)

O LORD,

We come to You

with what is overwhelming to us.

Please work in us

          and thorough us

Your strength and wisdom

that Your intervening power

   brings Your glory to it.

Remind us,

           nudge us,

   to come to You.

Fear locks all the doors.

Worry deflates the tires.

But You, O LORD,

   turn hardship

           into worship.

Draw us to You today.