“Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven” – 2 Chronicles 30:27 (KJV)
Yesterday we began to speak in meditation the exhortation to prayer. We looked mostly at the benefits/blessing accruable to us at the altar of prayer and fasting. We saw that prayer is an injunction by Christ in Luke 18:1. We looked at Paul’s request on prayer. We will continue today to look at what disposition we should bring into prayer for it to be effective, to receive answers and consequently make us recipients of yesterday’s enumerated benefits.
Hezekiah the King of Judah prepared a very good atmosphere for answered prayers such as:-
He opened the door of the temple which had been shut by his father.
He brought in the priest and Levites to sanctify themselves and the temple.
He confessed and acknowledge the sins of his father for which judgement came upon Judah.
Made knew covenant with God to turn away His wrath.
Charge the priests and Levites to commence the worship of Jehovah in the temple.
Gathered the rulers of Judah together and went up to the temple to sacrifice.
Set the Levites in the temple to play instruments and sing as David commanded.
By these acts, Hezekiah prepared the atmosphere and the mind of the people for God to hear them and answer their prayers. He did a lot of other things that adequately prepared the people’s heart towards God. The state of your heart is key to your prayer being answered. A sanctified heart has unhindered access to the throne room of God. A righteous heart attracts the attention of the Almighty God, and His ear is attentive to hear their cry. This was what Paul meant by lifting up holy hands. Prayer and fasting from a polluted and unclean heart is an abomination unto God. Isaiah 58: 9b-10a(KJV) explains further what is expected from a person that God will answer his prayer; “If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke (oppression), putting forth of the finger (accusations), and speaking vanity (blasphemy). And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry (providing for the needy) and satisfy the afflicted soul (providing help to those who lack and are neglected)”. Hezekiah met all these requirements. it is no wonder then that he prayed “and the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people”.
We must prepare our heart for the LORD for effectiveness at the prayer altar.
Prayer: Father pour upon me the spirit of grace and supplication so as to keep the fire burning in my prayer altar.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo