Laying It All Out

The enemy has launched a frontal attack. His signature is a combination of slander against God’s truth, goodness, and power. He pounces on every opportunity to uproot confidence in God’s reality and is delighted when the nations mock God. His tactics aren’t new--he’s been at this a long time--but we have the advantage.

How should we respond when under enemy fire?

Lay it all out. Talk to the Deliverer. 

One of my favorite prayer scenes in all of Scripture is found in 2 Kings 18-19. If you spend time soaking in these chapters, you’ll recognize the enemy’s familiar refrains spewing from Rabshekah’s mouth as he taunts those who trust in God and then ultimately blasphemes God by implying He’s no different than the gods of other nations.

When the vicious threats reach the king’s ear, he knows just what to do–he goes to prayer. Hezekiah humbles himself and seeks God for his nation’s deliverance. He calls on others to join him in the intercession effort, and when the enemy turns up the heat through an official dispatch, Hezekiah sets aside everything and gets alone to lay it all out before God.

In childlike trust this mighty king takes the enemy’s pompous letter and literally spreads it out before God. I love his opening statement:

O Lord . . . You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth . . .

Recognition of the Almighty then leads to the heart of Hezekiah’s appeal (please don’t miss this!!) . . .

Deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone are God.

He doesn’t ask for deliverance for his own sake, or even for the safety, comfort, or prosperity of the nation. He asks for deliverance so that God’s great name can be known far and wide as the one and only, the true and living–God! He wants God’s name and reputation to be vindicated! What a prayer! What battle strategy against the enemy’s arsenal!

I want His great name known and vindicated in our own nation. I desire for all to know that He alone is God. How about you? Are you ready to get serious about it? Ready to lay it all out?

The National Religious Broadcasters organization is asking the Christian radio community to call listeners to a season of intercession for our nation, so yesterday Revive Our Hearts launched a 40-day emphasis on prayer for revival within our nation. Please join us in “laying it all out before Him.”