---

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Isaiah cried out to you in prayer, and you brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps (2 Kgs 20:11). How amazing to think that you, the God of the universe, would confirm your word to Hezekiah with such a miraculous sign! Truly, you regard “the prayer of the destitute,” and you do “not despise their prayer” (Ps 102:17). How good it is to sing your praise. Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Not long after you delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib’s army, Hezekiah became deathly ill. He was only 39 years old at the time, and he again cried out to you for help. You heard his prayer and saw his tears, and you not only healed him, but performed a miracle to confirm his recovery. Truly, there is nothing too hard for you! Sadly, Hezekiah’s story does not end on this note of triumph. Like his great-grandfather Uzziah, he had a problem with pride. Hezekiah had become immensely wealthy over the course of his reign, and the recent Assyrian invasion had not done any serious damage to his net worth. Indeed, after your miraculous rescue of Jerusalem, “many were bringing gifts to the Lord…and choice presents to Hezekiah…so that he was exalted in the sight of the nations” (2 Chr 32:23). All the praise and attention went to Hezekiah’s head, and it wasn’t long until “his heart was proud” (2 Chr 32:25). So you decided to give him a test. When the ambassadors from Babylon came to inquire about his miraculous healing, you stepped back to see how he would respond. Instead of giving the glory to you, he threw open the doors of his treasuries and bragged about his wealth and resources. This shows me that prosperity is far more dangerous than hardship, for acclaim can quickly lead to pride. You rebuked Hezekiah through Isaiah, and he repented (2 Chr 32:26), but your promised wrath was only delayed. Reflection If Hezekiah had accepted his early death, he never would have fallen into pride. This leaves me with the impression that your way is best, even if it means great sacrifice on my part. Better to submit to your will than to have my own way and live to regret it. Request Father, few have survived the “blessing” of great wealth and fame, for it so often leads to pride. Help me to be content with what I have. May I look at my life and say, “It is enough.” Thanksgiving Thank you for the comfort of knowing that you hear my prayers and see my tears. You are compassionate and kindhearted, and I can always cast my cares on you! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Sweet Humility” — Charles E. Orr. Meditation Verse: 2 Chronicles 32:31.