Prayer

King Hezekiah received troubling news. He learned that the king of Assyria was on his way to capture Hezekiah’s kingdom. When Hezekiah heard the report, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the temple to pray. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and delivered Judah from the powerful Assyrian army. Today’s passage is Hezekiah’s response.

Have you ever heard the term “mortification of the flesh”? That’s how theological writers of old termed what Paul presents in our passage today. These writers understood the spiritual battle—the old life, ruled by the sinful nature, versus the new life, ruled by the Spirit.

I am writing this devo from a packed airplane. It was snowing, windy, and cold when we took off, but we’ll land in seventy-degree weather. After speaking at a church, I’ll get back on a plane and return to the cold. Life is a bit like my travels over the next couple of days. Some circumstances bring the blowing cold; others bring the warm sunshine.

The greatest weapon in the spiritual battle is prayer—talking with God. We can only be strong in the strength of his might. And that strength comes when we are in conversation with the One in charge of the battle. Even when we are all buckled up in our battle gear, we must hear the voice of the Sovereign Commander. He is the only One who brings the victory.

Do you have any issues with other people? Does anyone rub you the wrong way? Say things behind your back? Hurt you? Living our daily lives means inevitable conflicts with others. When those matters arise, and they will, Jesus gives us specific instructions.

Forgiveness is a tremendous spiritual truth! What could be better? When we genuinely go to the Father with repentance, he is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). He “blots out” our transgressions from the record and chooses to forget our sins (Isaiah 43:25). David writes that God removes our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).

If there was ever a verse torn apart by being ripped out of context so often, today’s passage is it. “Christian” pop-psychology tells us to memorize these words and write them on our bathroom mirror. This verse shows up on the wide receiver’s shoes. Look closely through the quarterback’s facemask; you can make it out on black strips under his eyes. The conclusion most make is this: Whatever I want to do, God will give me the strength to do it. But, always remember this key principle of understanding Scripture: Context ultimately determines the meaning.

The three-and-a-half-hour church service in the Mathare slum had come to an end, and our last speaking responsibility was over! I gathered with my traveling partners in a room where our host brought us Cokes. As much as I enjoy the stretching experiences of mission trips, I love getting back home. I looked forward to packing up and heading to the airport to begin the long journey back to Pittsburgh. But then, something caught my attention.

When I was growing up, there was a plaque hanging on a wall in our house that read, “Don’t worry. It may never happen.” I passed that saying many times each day, and those words became branded on my brain. So, of course, I never worry. (I wish!)