Does Prayer Work?

"Then Hezekiah turnes his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord." (2 Kings 20:2)

Hezekiah was king of Judah and by and large was a good king. One day the prophet Isaiah came before the king and told him that God had said Hezekiah would not recover from the illness that he had. "Set you house in order, for you shall die." That is the kind of news that wrecks your day.

It is in response to that bad news that Hezekiah turns to God in prayer. "Now O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." (2 Ki 20:3). And if you read that account, the Bible says that before Isaiah the prophet even got outside of the kings court, God stops him and says, "Turn back and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people. Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you." In fact, God promises to add 15 years on to Hezekiah's life.

God does not always answer our prayers with a "yes." In fact we should thank God that He loves us enough to say "No" when what we ask for is not in our best interest. But God does hear our prayers, and He does answer our prayers.

Too often, prayer for us is a last resort, when it truly ought to be our first resolve. Prayer is the most effective resource at our disposal. Genuine prayer ushers us into the presence of the One true and only living God through worship. Prayer that is heartfelt will enable us to realign our priorities with His. Prayer places us in humility to submit to the Father. I am not sure why God has chosen to hear and answer our prayers other than the fact that He loves us. God does what He does in our lives in response to our prayers.

Don't make it complicated. Prayer is simply a matter of talking with God anytime, anywhere, with the express purpose of doing His will. Let me encourage you to block out significant time each day to spend with your heavenly Father.

History or Hoax

"He appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, although some have fallen asleep." ( I Cor. 15:6)

I once heard Josh McDowell say, "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the human race, or it is the most incredible event to occur in history." I was a history major in college at the time I heard him say that, and I though, "You know, that is true." All of the evidence on Sunday morning told the story of an empty tomb.

I love this passage from the pen of the apostle Paul. Paul was the most ardent opponent of Christianity until he personally encountered Jesus, after the Resurrection. Here is a man who was killing Christians, and yet who became the greatest missionary for Jesus Christ in history. And look what he says in this verse.

Jesus appeared to more than 500 witnesses all at one time. Then he said, "Most of whom are still alive." Did you ever ask, why did he say that? If only one person said, "I saw Jesus, risen from the dead," we could dismiss that person as some kind of fruitcake. But when 500 saw him and they are still alive, Paul is saying, "Go ask them yourself, don't take my word for it."

I cast my vote for history. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened. Ask me how I know.
I know because the Risen Savior lives in my heart. Happy Easter. He is alive. Celebrate the Good News today.