Sonya A Miller

After meditating on this longer, I believe I have a better understanding. Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD. The LORD'S house is a house of prayer. The significance? Hezekiah did what was right. He brought the matter to the LORD, his Creator in prayer. The underlying principle is God's free Gift to us (Salvation through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins and eternal life). This includes special favor by God, His provision for us, His continuing support of us, His power, His ability, and His capacity. To God be the glory! Amen!

What is the significance of Hezekiah spreading out the enemy's mesage before the LORD? Hezekiah is showing the LORD that He is being insulted moreso than Hezekiah. It is for the LORD to make response. What is the underlying principle illustrated here? Hezekiah is showing his trust and faith in the LORD. He is not handling the insult on his own. God is being insulted. The battle is the LORD'S. How can we apply this principle to our own lives? We can trust in the LORD'S power to help us fight our battles. What happens when we don't apply this principle? When we don't trust the LORD, we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. We get discouraged; we give up; we can't handle it.

Q3. Verses 11 and 12 both attribute various characteristics to God, such as glory, honor, and might. How might you begin to mention God's greatness in your own prayers? I like to pray the Psalms adapting them to fit my life and time. Psalms 147-150 are good praise psalms. Where is this kind of praise found by example in the Lord's Prayer? Matthew 6:9b - "Hallowed be thy name." Matthew 6:13b - "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." What are your favorite songs that point to God's greatness? Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying; Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun; This Is My Father's World; Crown Him with Many Crowns; Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise; Battle Hymn of the Republic; O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing; All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night; Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power; To God Be the Glory; The Lord Is King!; My God, How Wonderful Thou Art. The following is the last four lines of the Latin hymn At the Lamb's High Feast : Hymns of glory, songs of praise, Father, unto Thee we raise: Risen Lord, all praise to Thee with the Spirit ever be. These are the last four lines of a hymn by Isaac Watts, Jesus Shall Reign : Let every creature rise and bring His grateful honors to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud amen!

We call out to God; exaltation arouses a strong emotional response in us and beneficially stimulates us. It raises our minds to a higher level. We get "high" on God. PTL!

Praise exalts God by showing Him honor and respect. It, also, encourages others to praise Him and acknowledges His position as head over all. "Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity....To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." Isaiah 40:21-25 Exaltation of God strengthens our faith. We may experience the thrilling sensation of the Holy Spirit. It reveals that we are part of the family of God. PTL! From Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness could exalt our nation. I hope and pray this will be the future of the United States of America. Glory to God in the highest!

This is the sacrifice God will not despise. It involves real repentance, a genuine desire to change, and a real love for God. We resist because we know if we truly love God, we must repent and change.

Q3. Is it possible to have a pure heart? YES! A Resounding (((yes))), (((yes))), (((yes)))!!! PTL! How does God bring about a pure heart? God brings this about through the cleansing blood of Christ. What is our part in this? Like David, we are to call out to Him in a prayer of repentance. It's as simple as A ccept Jesus as your Savior. B elieve in Christ for your salvation. C onfess your sins.

Q2. In his prayer does David seek to minimize his sins? To maximize them? David neither minimizes nor maximizes his sins; he owns up to them fully before God. Why does an authentic prayer for pardon require clear, unvarnished acknowledgement of sin to be effective? We need to own up to our sin and the awfulness of it. We must acknowledge that we've offended God and seek His pardon, then God forgives. From Psalms 130:7 - "hope in the Lord; for he is loving and kind, and comes to us with armloads of salvation."

Q1. In what way do our prayers of praise "bless" God? Our prayers of praise bless His eternalness. They acknowledge His holiness, His wholeness, His headship, His generosity, His greatness, His glory, and His love. Our humility, hands, and voices uplift Him. What do we mere humans have that God desires in a blessing? He desires our contrite and humble spirit. Isaiah 57:15 - "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." What are prayers like, that don't include blessing God? Prayers that don't include blessing God are discourteous. They forget to greet the One to Whom they are addressed.

Q1. In what way does a prayer for pardon require faith? One would need to believe in the Lord, know one is a sinner, and desire a restored relationship with God to feel the need for a prayer of pardon. What is that faith based on? Romans 10:17 - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." How does a person gain the faith to pray this prayer in confidence? Through Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by our faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:11-12)

Q4. In what way does Abraham show persistence? He continued to importune God regarding any righteous people who may be living in Sodom. Why is persistence necessary in prayer? In scripture we are told that God will do what needs to be done, if His chosen ones continue to beseech Him day and night. Have you ever experienced "praying through"? What was it like? From personal experience, be careful what you pray for. You may get it, but it may not be in a way you like.

Q3. Do you think Abraham's boldness pleased God? Why or why not? By confiding in Abraham, God had set up a relationship based on trust and intimacy. God was pleased with Abraham's response and expected his honest feedback. What might cause God to take delight in your prayers to Him? His love for us might cause Him to take delight in our prayers to Him. God longs to respond to our prayers. We are His children, and He wants to bless us because of His Son, Jesus.

Q2. How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God? Abraham did muster up the courage to speak to God. When he did, he showed God that he knew his place in the hierarchy of life by expressing "though I am nothing but dust and ashes". Why must boldness be tempered with humility? To be bold without humility would not be acting in the Spirit. It would be overstepping what is proper behavior towards God.

Q1. What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? How does it relate to God's character? Abraham feels an obligation to his nephew Lot, so he asks the LORD to spare Sodom if even only ten righteous people live there. God is righteous, and Abraham expects Him to do what is right.