Scripture
Our verse for today comes from 2 Kings 20:6, “And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”
Background
If you ever needed convincing of the power of prayer, look no further than Hezekiah’s prayer in this chapter. The prophet Isaiah had just gone to visit the sick king, and he told him that the Lord said to get his house in order, for he was about to die. And as most of us would do, Hezekiah cried and pleaded with God to reconsider. And so it happened, that before Isaiah could even leave the palace, God responded to the prayer, sparing Hezekiah’s life, and even adding fifteen more years to it. Now, the extra fifteen years that Hezekiah received may not have been his best. His pride, arrogance, and riches eventually led Isaiah to give him another message from God. This one spoke of the future captivity in Babylon, and the trouble that would come to his sons. So, if you were to be granted fifteen additional years from God, how would you spend them? Surely the first month or two would be filled with praise and celebration. How else could you respond to a miracle from God? But as time rolled on, and the demands of life began to wear away at you, how fresh and miraculous would those extra days feel? As you wrestled with some of the same old problems, and some of the same old people, how grateful would you be for God’s gift of more time?
Application
Well, might we consider that some of us are already living in that window of extra time from God? And I’m not just talking about those who are advanced in years. I’m saying that we all should be living as if we have been on our death beds, and God has stepped in and granted us more time. What guarantee is there that I’ll finish this sentence? Who died yesterday not thinking that they would see today? Our lives have been given to us. Yes, there is difficulty. Yes, there is pain. Yes, there is heartache. But there is life, and life eternal. It all has been given to us, freely from our God. Let the gratitude for a gift you didn’t ask for consume you as you live and enjoy these fifteen years.
Charge
As we seek Him today, dwell on the blessings God has given you. Don’t rush past them, but dwell on them in your hearts and let His Spirit overtake you.
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