“You Alone, Lord, Are God”

Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word: “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

“It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”

2 Kings 19:9-19

Pray to the Lord that you be provided with direction. Then write out the basic facts in the things that confront you. Write in the possible courses of action. Then, step back from the problem, and view it objectively.

Just as recording your thoughts on paper will offer you a fresh perspective, make sure you go to God, first. Prayer helps us gain His perspective and reminds us of His power.

When we are faced with a situation that brings anxiety, fear, or a deep awareness that getting through it will require more than what we have, follow Hezekiah’s footsteps and run straight to the Lord. Like him, we, too, can lay our problems before God and trust Him to guide our steps and calm our uneasy hearts.

God is our greatest help in times of distress.

Our Daily Bread – September 6, 2017