Prayerfully
In 2025 I aim to pray my way chronologically (as it happened) through the Bible and listen for God.
Lord Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Forgive me and help me turn from everything I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay the price and set me free from my sin. Please come into my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.”
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a [a]loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. 6 I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’ 7 And this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has spoken: 8 Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.” Isaiah 38:1-8 NKJV
Lord God,
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed. He did not want to die. I knew a man of God who prayed daily facing a wall. He found it concentrated his thoughts, stopped distractions and was symbolic of God being the only way forward. Hezekiah knew no-one but You, God is the Lord of life.
The Lord does not warn all of us to put our house and the time of our death. He certainly as far as I know does not grant us knowledge of how much longer we have. And the sun going backward? We may never understand how that worked. It was a miracle and by their nature they cannot be explained.
Hezekiah could not rejoice that he was going home as he was part of the Old Testament covenant. But still how wonderful, how merciful to have extra years. He was assured that even time was in Your hand, Almighty God. You placed this historical record, maybe not for us to understand but to marvel and wonder that You were Hezekiah’s God and You are ours.
Perhaps we would prefer not to know when we will die? We would all probably like to ask for a few more years . . . Lord you are still the same as You were – but we can know You more intimately through Jesus. And one day we will see You face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Help us to look for miracles and know that You grant life now and life everlasting.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 2nd August 2025
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of his resurrection share;
When his chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun;
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. [Refrain]
Lyrics: James M Black.
“Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword. NLT22 That is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land. 23 From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too.”
2 Chronicles 32:20-23 NLT
Victorious Lord,
So many times we read that Your people called on You when under attack, surrounded or in danger. And You miraculously delivered them or gave them instructions of what to do. Like here. We do not know what killed their enemies but that You protected Your people.
2 Kings 6:8-23. The Arameans surround Dothan to stop Elijah telling the king of Israel all the enemies tactics before they happened! Elijah prayed for Elisha’s spiritual eyes be opened and he saw Your vast army with chariots of fire Lord on the hillsides. And was no longer afraid. But Your army did not become involved. You told Elijah to pray the Arameans would be blind so they were easily captured. And fed and sent home humiliated!
In 2 Samuel 5 it was the sound of marching they were to listen for in the Balsam, or Poplar trees. Then they should attack because You went before them so they won the victory. Then David, newly crowned after Saul was dead, was able to take Jerusalem. This time he had to fight but followed Your plan God
So many times we could recount victories from following You, trusting You, obeying You. Even when the instructions did not make sense. Help us not follow blindly but be listening for Your way through.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Friday 1st August 2025
Elyssa (lyrics writer), states that the purpose of the song came when “the Lord started highlighting the power of thanksgiving and the power of His finished work” through historical records of Jehoshaphat having the Levites sing and Elisha’s prayer against the Syrians.
A song for times we feel in the heat of battle and need encouragement? Not a communal worship song. Very repetitive and I found that a little annoying but it also struck a chord. I am surrounded by God. Even if I don’t feel it.
… The word says
“For the spirit of heaviness
Put on the garment of praise”
That’s how we fight our battles (yeah)
… This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles (yeah, yes)
This is how I fight my battles (what we’re doing tonight)
This is how I fight my battles
Just when you think you’re lost
… It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You, hey!
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
… This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles (ohh)
… It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You, hey!
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
Lyrics: Elyssa Smith
“The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them. 19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: “‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?” 2 Kings 17:17-19 NIV
“Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” 27 But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?” 28 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand.” 2 Kings 18:26-29 NIV
Our Great King,
It does not always get better straight away, sometimes it gets worse and words are like arrows. I love the detail of stopping at the Washerman’s field. Very precise and a public place. Officials from Assyria and Judah could converse efficiently in Aramaic. Hebrew was the local language of the Israelites and not as widely employed. But Rabshakeh’s uses it so he could instill fear directly on all all the people
Sometimes so many things go wrong and all at the same time we cope better because we do not try to fix them all ourself and we turn to You. We see the enemies tactics speaking in the situation. You cannot stop this, you cannot win . . .and like Hezekiah we know immediately we cannot but who can . . . You, O Lord our help and deliverer.
Hezekiah’s prayer (2 Kings 19:14-19) puts it all into Your hands, the living God, and asks for rescue so they can give testimony to Your deliverance.” And You do. Isaiah prophesies it in chapter 37:21-35 and we read it in 2 Chronicles 32:20-23.
How many times have we too felt cornered by troubles and found relief and a way through by calling out and trusting in You. Help us not to be blinded by situations but keep our eyes focused on You.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 31st July 2025
I was reminded of this simple chorus and prayer as I wrote the last line above.
Focus My Eyes On You Oh Lord,
Focus My Eyes On You
To Worship In Spirit And In Truth
Focus My Eyes On You
Turn Round My Life To You, Oh Lord
Turn Round My Life To You
To Know From This Night You’ve Made Me New
Turn Round My Life To You
Fill Up My Heart With Praise, Oh Lord
Fill Up My Heart With Praise
To Speak Of Your Love In Every Place
Fill Up My Heart With Praise
Lyrics: Ian White