LAYING IT BEFORE HIM
Today's reading: Isaiah 34-39

"After Hezekiah received the letter and read it, he went up to the Lord's Temple and spread it out before the Lord." Isaiah 37:14 NLT

King Hezekiah was in a pickle and the letter he received only confirmed it.

The evil king of Assyria, Sennacherib, was poised and ready to attack.

His troops were in place.

His chariot horses were chomping at the bit.

His spy-like liaisons had made the rounds spreading trash talk among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And now this letter.

Hezekiah read it.

Then he took steps--not to bolster the morale of the soldiers nor put on his suit of armor nor fortify the city gates nor escape town before the first arrow was launched...

He went to church and laid it all out before the Lord.

Every page. Every word. Every threat. Every square inch of the parchment that so threatened.

What an object lesson!

It's just what we need to do when we receive threatening 'mail' from our enemy.

We needn't strive harder. We shouldn't attempt to clean up the mess. We must not think it's up to us. We shouldn't try to hide the most recent attack. We don't have to pretend everything is rosy.

We have to spread it all out before God.

Our broken hearts. Our dysfunctional families. Our wandering children. Our sins. Our doubts. Our fears. Our addictions. Our weaknesses. Our prideful character traits. Our past regrets.

Lay them all, no matter how ugly, out before God.

Then, step back and watch what He will do!