Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah: each of these men were kings over Judah. That was God’s design. However they did not all walk in the ways of the Lord.

Hezekiah was sick unto death. He pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord gave him another fifteen years. An envoy came from Babylon to visit Hezekiah. Hezekiah proudly showed them everything in his kingdom.

God sent Isaiah with a word that said Babylon would come and carry everything away. Hezekiah’s reaction? 2 Kings 20:19 says, “…The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good! For he said, Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?” He had no regard for Judah’s future.

Years ago, a friend of mine was facing heart surgery. He asked Jack to pray for his life to be spared. Jack wisely said: consider what you are asking. Remember Hezekiah and Manasseh. His surgery was successful and he lived out his life faithfully serving the Lord.

Manasseh took over his father’s throne when he was twelve years old. That means he was born during Hezekiah’s extended fifteen years. He was a very evil king. He rebuilt all the idolatress things that his father had torn down. 2 Kings 21:16 says, “…Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another…” That sounds like our country with abortions.

We are called to follow God’s designed path for our lives. Ours will be different from others, because it was specifically designed by God before He placed us in the womb. The Lord asked Moses what was in his hand. What has the Lord placed in your hand that He wants to use to bring glory to His name?

When we pray, we need to consider what we are asking. James 4:3 is a warning to us. It says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Emotional fillers sneak in. They fill our senses so that our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading is dulled. Hebrews 5:4 says that our discernment is sharpened as we mature. Ingesting the solid food from His word increases our appetite to choose His will over ours.