God, Look and Listen

Read

Isaiah 37:17 “Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

Isaiah 37:20 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God.”

Think

Do you ever video chat with a grandparent or someone who lives far away?

It's different from a regular phone call. On a video call, you get to show them stuff! “Grandpa, look at my loose tooth!” “Look at the fort I built!” “Watch me do a cartwheel!” You turn the screen around so they can see everything.

You want them to see what you see and hear what you hear.

When Hezekiah prayed about that scary letter, he talked to God a lot like that.

He prayed, “Give ear, Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see.” “Give ear” is an old way to say, “Listen closely.” Hezekiah was saying, “God, look at this! Listen to what this bully king is saying about you!”

Of course, God already saw everything. He already heard every word. God never needs us to turn the screen around. But he loves it when we come to him and share what's going on. That's what prayer is. It's talking with God about real stuff.

Then Hezekiah asked God for something big. He asked God to save his whole city from the army.

But look at why he asked. He wanted God to save them so that every kingdom on earth would know that God is the only God. Hezekiah didn't just want to feel better. He wanted everyone to see how great God is.

That's a really cool way to pray. We can ask God for help with anything. And we can also ask, “God, when you help me, let other people see how good you are.”

Think about it. If God helps you be brave on a hard day, you can tell your friends, “God helped me!” If God answers a prayer for your family, you can share that story. Every answered prayer is a chance for people to see God.

So go ahead and pray honest prayers. Pray big prayers. Show God everything, like on a video call. And ask him to show how great he is through your life.

Apply

Pray a big prayer – Ask God for help with something big today. Then tell him, “When you help me, I'll tell someone about it!” Watch for how he answers and keep your promise.

Pray

God, thank you that you always see me and hear me. Please help me with the big things in my life. And when you help me, let other people see how great you are. In Jesus' name. Amen.