Prayer

I was recently amazed at an account I read in the Old Testament. I often struggle in understanding prayer because I believe so fully in God's sovereignty that I often wonder, do my prayers matter? If God is completely in control and omniscient (all knowing), which I fully believe He is, and therefore knows the future, can my prayer request really change His mind? Of course, in my head I would tell myself yes, but I still struggled with it. I was so encouraged by reading the account of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings.

In 2 Kings, the prophet Isaiah was told by the Lord to inform King Hezekiah he would soon die. Hezekiah turned to God in faithful prayer and...God changed His mind!!! God sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah to inform him, " I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5 Amazing!

Now we can't know why God changed His mind. He has a plan and a purpose far greater than making sure we are always healthy, wealthy, and happy. And we know, according to Romans 8:29, that His main purpose is to make us like Jesus and that often involves trials. God isn't a genie in a bottle waiting around to grant us our wishes. But He loves us, He hears us, and He cares about us.

I'm thanking Him today for allowing us to be involved in His plan through prayer.