Stand Firm in Prayer

Bible Reading (July 13)

• 2 Chron 32-33
• Proverbs 6
• 1 Tim 5

What Spiritual Gift has God given for me to thank Him and praise Him for in worship today? (Rom 1:11)

2 Chron 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty troops, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have great troops, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.

2 Chron 32:9-19 Sennacherib mocked Hezekiah in front of the people. He told them Hezekiah was lying (2 Chron 32:15) and that God would not be able to rescue them (2 Chron 32:14). How often do you feel that way? When tempted to sin? When you are overwhelmed with support raising? When you are discouraged, because your children don’t seem to be learning to obey? When you don’t see any fruit from your efforts in ministry?

God is telling us, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the circumstances you are facing, no matter what it is. For there is power far greater on our side! We have the LORD our God to help us!” (2 Chron 32:7-8)

I am praying for courage… for faith to see God’s strength in the midst of your weakness (2 Cor 12:5 -10) That you would put on the armor of God and clothe yourself with His might today. (Eph 6:10)

What encouraged me in my faith? (Rom 1:12)

1 Tim 5:3, 8 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. (8) But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

I know I have read these verses before. But they just jumped off the page this morning, in light of my current circumstances. “But if a widow (or widower) has children or grandchildren, THEIR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them!” “Those who don’t care of their relatives are worse than unbelievers.” When my dad got sick, I felt so strongly that I should take care of him. I did feel that it should be my first responsibility. This morning it encouraged my faith to read, “This is something that pleases God!”

What spiritual fruit does God want to work in me and in those I share this with today? (Rom 1:13)

2 Chron 32:20-21 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian troops with all their 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.

Hezekiah reminded the people to be strong and courageous, and to put their faith in God. But, when that was challenged, Hezekiah’s response was to go back to God in prayer!

This reminds me of some of the other pieces of the armor of God and how God says the armor will help us.

• v11 Put on ALL of God’s armor so that you will be able to STAND FIRM against ALL strategies of the devil.
• v13 Put on EVERY piece of armor so you will be able to RESIST in the time of evil, then after the battle you will be STANDING FIRM.”
• v14 STAND YOUR GROUND putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
• v15 (stand your ground) putting on the shoes of peace that comes from the gospel in your life
• v16 Hold the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil

As Solomon instructed his children, he talks about the commands of a father and the instruction of a mother. But it sounds much like what Paul describes as putting on the armor. (Prov 6:20-23)

• Keep their words always in your heart.
• Tie them around your neck.
• When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
• When you sleep, they will protect you.
• When you wake up, they will advise you.
• For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light;
• their corrective discipline is the way to life.

Like Paul said in Romans 13:14 clothe yourself with the presence of God and don’t even think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature. (NIV)

I pray today that you will clothe yourself with Christ! That you will be able to stand firm because you are clothed in His righteousness. I pray that as you go throughout your day today that God’s counsel will lead you. That the truth will enable you to stand your ground. That you will experience the peace that comes from the assurance of the gospel. That your faith will stop the fiery arrows of the devil. That you will be able to go to bed at rest and wake up ruminating over the truth.