“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.”  – 2Kings 20:5 (NKJV)

King Hezekiah was one of the people in the Bible days whom God answered their prayers in an unusual way. This king was sick after he had reigned some good years as the leader of God’s people and God was pleased with him but in His wisdom and benevolence, He sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him that he would die from his sickness.

And truly, the message was delivered to him but he didn’t agree with what the prophet said, so he prayed that he would live longer. And God answered by sending the same prophet to him that 15 years has been added to his days. But wouldn’t that be his doom and that of his seed after him? It is not just about answered prayers, it is much about the heart and our character after prayers have been answered.

Many people began to turn their backs on God the moment they received answers to their prayers. Many began to walk the path of destruction. King Hezekiah had visitors from Babylon who came to congratulate him on his recovery from sickness. And when they came, he showed them the treasury of the Lord’s house and that of the king’s house. He showed them everything dedicated to God. This action was not as nauseating as the last which he did.

God sent the prophet to him that he was wrong to allow those visitors see all they saw and the Lord said his offspring would be enslaved by this same people. But read his response: 2 Kings 20:19 – “So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “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?” (NKJV)

What a wicked and selfish response from someone who was just favoured to live longer! One of the things you just pray for is a changed heart that helps you to live well after you have received answers to your prayers. One of the things prayers offered in the will of God does is to work on the heart of the one praying in order to align it in character with that of God.

God doesn’t want you to be more callous and wicked after praying. He wants you to be better than that. He wants your heart humble and filled with goodness. So, after answered prayers, what’s our character like and what’s your response to the things of God? Answered prayers is not meant to make us go far from God but to draw closer to Him. If this is not achieved in your life, you are not yet living well.

Action Point: Check your heart posture and character after you’ve received answers to prayers, do they mirror Christ and His goodness?

Confession: I decree that my life is fruitful and I live out all of God’s purpose for me.

Related Scripture: 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32

Bible Reading: Leviticus 17