Lay It Down
My friend Calvin Haynes took this picture of me in 2008 when I ministered in dance at the Dancing Preachers Conference in Atlanta. This year we connected at Dancing Preachers and got to know each other. He is a gifted man who worships in dance before the Lord, an amazing photographer, and a multi talented and gifted guy…….check out his website at ddprojectservices.com. He has blessed me with many pictures of my dance from 2008 for which I am very grateful and blessed.
Sunday morning as I was in the Word I was struck my Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a King in Judah. In the midst of many Kings of Judah and Israel, Hezekiah was different. The Word tells us that “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father David had done.” 2 Kings 18:3 It was timely reading as I was becoming discouraged reading of all the Kings of Israel and Judah who were evil and who led the people of God astray, reign after reign.
Furthermore it says that Hezekiah, “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor were there before him. For he held fast to the lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him, he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the King of Assyria and did not serve him. He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.” 2 Kings 18: 5-8
Wow, now this is a King I want to read about.
Hezekiah:
– trusted in the Lord
-held fast to the Lord
-did not depart from following Him
-kept His commandments
Therefore:
-the Lord was with him
-he prospered wherever he went
-he rebelled against the King of Assyria
-he subdued the Philistines
So what I read here is that trusting in and holding fast to the Lord, following the Lord and keeping His commandments benefits me in many ways:
#1 I will enjoy the presence of the Lord!
#2 I will prosper
#3 I will not give in to those forces in my life that want to frighten, intimidate and cause me to turn away from serving the Lord by demanding a “tribute” of my time, money or energy
#4 I will have strength and wisdom to subdue my enemies
The best thing about Hezekiah was his willingness to “take things before the Lord”. He did this quite literally. When threatened by the King of Assyria, he took the letter from the messengers, “and Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord.” 2 kings 19:14-15
And the Lord heard his prayer and sent Isaiah to Hezekiah with this message, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.” 2 kings 19:20 Not only was the king of Assyria turned away but he was killed by the plan and hand of God.
Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is to “lay things down”. To lay them down before the Lord, pray, and leave it with Him, trusting that He has a plan. What do we need to lay down before the Lord today? Family, work, financial concerns, health issues……..sometimes I feel like I just need to lay down my entire body, mind and spirit before the Lord and in that posture I find peace and relief.
Whatever it is today, follow in the steps of Hezekiah and “literally” take it to the Lord and lay it down before Him. He will hear and He already has an answer for you!