2012 July 25 - Morning Manna

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down. (Isaiah 38:1-8).

Today's Morsel: Does it really pay to pray? I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Seven days without prayer makes one weak". While did the early church place so much emphasis on prayer. Why did John the Baptist teach his disciples to pray and Jesus' disciple asked Him to teach them to pray the way that John had taught his disciples to pray? Prayer was implemented long before both Jesus and John came to earth. The first mention of prayer, I believe, was recorded in Genesis 4:26, which says, "And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26). When King Hezekiah was told to set his house in order because he would die and not live, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God and he was granted 15 additional years. Hezekiah is an example that it pays to pray. Yes, it does pay to pray as certain things only go out by prayer and fasting, Jesus said. And Paul admonishes us to prayer for all men and to never cease praying. Prayer, more than anything, shows that you trust and believe in God to do things according to His perfect will.

Sing: Hear my cry, O' God, attend unto my prayer, from the ends of the earth will I cry unto thee, and when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to that Rock that is higher than I, so much higher than I.