The Prayer that God Heard
A generation had passed since the promise of God came to King David that his son Solomon would build God’s Temple. With years of anticipation the people of God’s choosing, Israel, were gathered at the city of God’s choosing, Jerusalem, with the king of God’s choosing, Solomon, to celebrate the completion of the place of God’s choosing, the Temple. A place God said in II Chronicles 7:16, “For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”
Great sacrifices were given during this dedication that lasted twenty-four days with 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep offered up to God. God showed up and consumed the first of the offerings in one of the most spectacular demonstrations of God’s glory seen in the entirety of God’s Word. Although God accepted this phenomenal offering, the offering is not what captured God’s heart. God honored the prayer that was offered up as a sacrifice on that day. At the conclusion of the prayer, God’s Shekinah Glory, the manifest presence of God, filled the Temple.
God told Solomon after the completion of the dedication, “I have heard your prayer.” (II Chronicles 7:12). In this chapter we will examine this prayer and ask ourselves: “What’s so special about this prayer?” Many people have told me through the years, “I don’t know how to pray”. Even the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, in Luke 11:1. For this reason we search the scriptures to discover prayers that were offered up to God, particularly the prayers that God honors. That being said, these prayers offered up to God are not magic formulas or things we simply quote to conjure up the presence of God. They are tools to teach us what touches the heart of God so we too can pray with confidence that God hears our prayer.
God honors the attitude of prayer more than the words or actions themselves. God began to explain to Solomon that if Israel wanted to see the continual anointing of His hand upon them, they must do things His way. God told them to pay attention to the signs of His presence; and when they saw the evidence of His blessings and provisions being removed, He gave not only the greatest formula for revival but also the only formula for revival. God told Solomon in II Chronicles 7:14, that if “My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Solomon’s prayer that day resulted in one of the most magnificent manifestations of God found in all the Word of God and set in motion the hand of God’s blessing falling on the nation of Israel for years to come as they sought the face of God. As we examine Solomon’s prayer, the prayer that God heard, we realize that everything God said He required for His hand of blessing to be upon His people in II Chronicles 7:14 is found within Solomon’s prayer. I believe that not only was God giving a formula for revival, but He was also giving His approval of Solomon’s prayer. As we look at the prayer that God heard, we will see II Chronicles 7:14 demonstrated in Solomon not only through his words but also through his actions and attitude.
Day 1 Prayer Guide
- Ask God to reveal any sins or mindsets that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
- Repent of any such hindrances and ask for God’s forgiveness.
- Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
- Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
- Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
- Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
- Pray for the people of God that they would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
- Pray that the people of God would have a desire and stand in anticipation for God to pour out the fires of revival upon churches and send a great awakening in our land.
- Pray that God’s people will seek the heart of God and desire His will and not their own.
- Pray that God’s people will align themselves with Him that He will hear their prayers.
- Ask God to align His people and prepare them for a mighty revival and a great awakening.
- Ask God to rise up leaders like Solomon that will lead the people for God’s glory.
- Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
- Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
- Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
- Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation.
- Thank God for hearing you and thank Him in advance for answering these petitions.
Comments