Bible Verses for Reflection and Prayer
God as I contemplate You again this morning, I once again reflect upon the fact that You are all powerful, all knowing. But more than that worthy of all praise, reverence and awe, which is revealed in the prayer of petition, spoken by Hezekiah, when the nation was threatened with destruction by, Sennacherib and his mighty army. Isaiah 37: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” No prayer uttered on earth escapes the notice of God, and it is His delight to deliver, when it is right to do so. Even though Wondrous and Almighty God, pride is not part of His nature, so it is not beneath God, to answer the petitioning person. Isaiah 37: 33, 37 “ Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, he shall not come into this city, not shoot an arrow there, nor cast a bank against it.” “So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt in Nineveh.”
As I learn more and more to love God, gratitude and thanks rise up more and more from me, in words, delivered in different ways. Another king of the Old Testament appreciated the goodness of God and gave public worship to that effect. 1 Chronicles 29: 10 – 14 “Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly and David said: ‘Blessed are You Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.’”
Within the scriptural record are written words of experiential faith and praise from numbers of men, with which I can identify, and add my words of praise. 1 Timothy 6: 15, 16 “You, O God, are the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You alone have immortality and dwell in unapproachable light; no one has seen You or can see You. To You be honour and eternal dominion.”
God invites us to call upon His name and petition us for His blessings, and because of His proven love, compassion, mercy and care for all people, and especially toward those who place their belief and faith In the Almighty God, many of us in modern times also place our lives and care into His hands. Numbers 6: 22– 26 “And the Lord spake to Moses saying, speak to Aaron and unto his sons, saying in this way, you shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them: ‘O Lord, bless us and keep us, O Lord make Your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. O Lord, turn Your face toward us and give us peace’” The Children of Israel were abundantly blessed by Almighty God. Today to all with an appreciative eye and believing heart comes every day myriads’ of large and small things to give God thanks and praise for. Even if not all things seemed like blessings at first!
One of the most precious blessings is the peace that Jesus delights to place in the heart of the petitioner, even in the midst of storm and turmoil. John 14: 27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” I thank my Saviour for this promise of enduring peace, as well as the answer to fear and trouble