FAITH CAPSULE: It is faith that pleases God and moves God to please us.

2 Kings 20:1-11, Daniel 6

The truth that Jesus knows what we want before we ask is not an excuse for us not to ask. When we ask we are putting faith to action and that is what God is waiting for. God wants us to show forth our faith. It is faith that pleases God and moves God to please us. It is written, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) It is important to also know that, “…For the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3) The weight of our actions that moves the hand of God is what determines the magnitude of our miracle. Getting into prayer is going to action. Those who are waiting for challenges before going in to prayer and those who make praying unto God their custom cannot be experiencing the same level of breakthrough in the face of a break down. The Bible talks about how Daniel refused to bow to a golden image that prompted the attempt to break him down in the den of hungry lions, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.’ (Daniel 6:10) In the case of Daniel, having the custom of prayer can be compared to taking vitamins. Vitamins will build our systems up so that sickness will not have its way. Daniel did not call on prayer partners when trouble showed up, because prayer was his custom (vitamin). Hezekiah, a man who knew what prayer could do did not hesitate to get on his knees and pray for deliverance from untimely death. In his commitment to God, convenience sets in and pride shows forth. With pride, untimely termination becomes evident. After having defeated Sennacherib, Hezekiah’s heart was lifted up. (2 Chronicles 32:25) Knowing that pride before God is like a death sentence, Hezekiah became sick and near death. By virtue of his conviction that God answers prayer, even his sickness could not prevent him from praying and getting results. It is written, “Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight…” (2 Kings 20:2-3) God heard the prayer of Hezekiah and added fifteen years. Prayer can be inconvenient but it is crucial and it demands commitment. Deny hindrances from taking away your prayer time before the prayer-answering God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to make prayer a custom.