Don’t let anxiety rule
It seems easier to serve the Lord and trust Him when things are going well. But before long we are reminded of the words from 1 Peter 5:8, “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
We can take lessons from the way Hezekiah responded to his enemy’s attacks. Recall that not only did Sennacherib try to intimidate Hezekiah by the manipulative words he wrote in his letter (Isaiah 37:10-11), but he also sent threats and deceptive messages to the people of Jerusalem, those who were counting on Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:14-15, 18).
So what can we learn from Hezekiah’s response to the enemy’s threats?
Get Perspective. Hezekiah filled his mind and his mouth with words acknowledging the greatness of the Lord—not the greatness of the threats. He said, “O Lord of Hosts,” addressing God by His covenant name. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, the Commander of all the armies of heaven. As the Psalm says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). When you get the right perspective about how much greater God is than anything the Enemy can throw your way, you’ll realize you have nothing to worry about.
Get Worship. He began proclaiming the greatness of God. “The One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone” (Isaiah 37:16). When we release worship, we release burdens. We lay them at His feet. Worship puts us in a position to lean not on our own understanding, but upon His faithfulness and greatness. Handling threatening news with worship disarms the Enemy.
Get Glory. Hezekiah ended his prayer by asking God to “save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone” (Isaiah 37:20). His focus was on God getting all the glory, not on his own merit. The Lord is glorified when you handle threats and attacks this way. It also speaks of His faithfulness to your family and friends.
Hezekiah did all these things and saw victory in his situation. Scripture tells us that an angel of the Lord destroyed 185,000 of the Assyrian troops that night, and Sennacherib was struck down when he returned home (Isaiah 37:36-38).
You can break the hold of negative words that have been spoken over your life. You don’t have to let them dominate your life and torment your mind. Remember, you have not received a spirit of fear, “but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). When the enemy sends threats your way, tell him he has the wrong address and take them to the Lord.
If there’s something lingering over your life, threatening your peace, your walk with God, your home, your marriage, your family or your finances—take it to the Lord. Don’t let anxiety rule. Get up, get perspective, worship God and watch Him get the glory for your deliverance.
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