Praying Wholeheartedly

A king named Hezekiah was a good and faithful king under God. Hezekiah became quite ill, so ill that he was at the brink if death. He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Why do you suppose  Hezekiah wept bitterly as he prayed? Do you think he feared death? Or did he value life? Was he concerned for himself? Or for the people of God? I would imagine that a death of a great king could cause chaos for a kingdom. This would create a surplus of opportunity for Judah to be distracted and even possibly ambushed by their enemy: Assyria. I beleive that Hezekiah was concerned about the people of Judah. I beleive that he valued the life God gave him, because he valued the mission to rule God's people with a righteous heart. It was tears for God's people and leaving the mission unfinished that gave Hezekiah great concern.

Word came from the Lord to Hezekiah, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of  my servant David."  (2 Kings 20:1-8)

Like Hezekiah, let us value the life of each child in our care and the mission to serve them Sunday mornings. Not only does each child have a purpose in God's Kingdom, we do, too. We do not want to ever take lightly the life of this ministry to children or our life's purpose in it.  Pray with me the following prayer for the Kids Quest Ministry at River Club:

Lord God in heaven. You alone are the God of our children and You love them even more than we. Please turn your face toward us and empower us as your servants to serve the children with your love, grace, mercy, and wisdom.  Make ready the heart of every child to be tender to your word, your gospel, and your presence.  Make us like King Hezekiah, wholehearted, faithful and devoted to Your mission and your ways. Grant us Your heart, God; allow us to see and experience life change in each child at River Club.  In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.