DISCUSSION
In Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah had grown sick and was at the point of death. God has already told him to get his house in order because he was not going to recover from this sickness. It is then that we see a prayer that the King utters, literally on his death bed. This prayer is recorded in Isaiah 38.3 … “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” (Isaiah 38:3). That is all that we have recorded of this prayer, yet there is something else we do not have; the personal thoughts of a dying man. I am sure that there was a whole lot more communication going on between Hezekiah and God, along with this short prayer he verbalized. The reason I believe that is found later in a letter he wrote after he recovered. Within this letter, there is a very powerful phrase Hezekiah mentions that allowed God to not only heal him but give him fifteen more years of life. The important phrase he wrote was “thank you”! When God saw that King Hezekiah had a thankful heart, He heard the prayer. He had seen his tears and He added fifteen years to his life (Isaiah 38.5-6). How often do you say thank you to God for the blessings He has given you? It is amazing how much a return we can receive from those two simple words. It may not be the blessings of fifteen more years, but it will be the peace that comes from our expression of gratitude to our Heavenly Father as we see that gracious love He has for us.
Prayer Requests:______________________________________________________________________