JUly 21st 

📖 July 21, 2025
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 18–19, 2 Chronicles 32, & James 5

📌 Scripture Focus:
“Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did.”
—2 Kings 18:5–7a NLT


“Then Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: ‘O Lord, God of Israel… You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth… Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.’”
—2 Kings 19:15,19 NLT


“‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged… For there is a power far greater on our side! …We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!’”
—2 Chronicles 32:7–8 NLT


💭 Reflection:
Yesterday, we were introduced to King Hezekiah — a man who began his reign with great courage and devotion, tearing down idols and leading Judah back to the Lord. Today, we see the fruit of that trust as Hezekiah faces one of the fiercest military threats in his lifetime: the mocking voice of the king of Assyria and the intimidation of a massive army.
At first, Hezekiah holds strong. Scripture says, "He trusted in the Lord… There was no one like him… He remained faithful." What an example! Hezekiah reminds us that trusting God is more than a moment — it’s a way of living. But then… fear creeps in. He tries to pay off the enemy with gold. He listens to threats. He wavers — and haven’t we all?
Still, what makes Hezekiah stand out isn’t that he was perfect, but that when fear tried to overtake him, he turned to the Lord in 🙏🏽 prayer. He brought the enemy’s mocking letter straight into the temple and spread it out before God. He cried out with humility and desperation, "Lord, open Your eyes and see!"
God responded with reassurance through Isaiah: "I have heard your prayer." And He didn’t just comfort Hezekiah — He moved mightily and supernaturally. The battle didn’t even need to be fought with swords. God fought it Himself.
Sometimes we start strong, but then fear begins whispering. The enemy shouts lies — “God won’t help you!” — or twists our past obedience into something shameful. He tells us we’re alone. But today’s reading reminds us: We are not alone. Like Hezekiah, we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. 💥
But there’s another important lesson. Later in life, after experiencing miracles, Hezekiah let pride rise in his heart. It was only when he humbled himself again that God’s anger was turned away.
Even the best leaders need God’s discipline. We don’t graduate from depending on Him. Our trust must be constant — not just in crisis, but in success too.


📚 Lesson for Me:
  • Trust is a lifestyle, not just a one-time act.
  • Fear is a red flag that I may be leaning on my own strength.
  • God hears 🙏🏽 prayers and will defend His name and His people.
  • The enemy will lie, intimidate, and twist truth — but God is stronger.
  • Even victories can lead to pride — and pride always needs to be humbled.

💡 Application Questions:
  1. Where in my life am I feeling fear or intimidation?

  3. Am I bringing the enemy’s threats to the Lord in 🙏🏽 prayer — or trying to handle them myself?

  5. Have I allowed pride to grow after a season of answered prayers?

  7. What lies has the enemy been shouting at me lately?

  9. How can I encourage someone else today to trust God in their battle?


🙏🏽 Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Hezekiah’s example — not of perfection, but of turning to You when fear crept in. Help me to trust You like that, to bring my battles before You, and to believe that You are able to rescue and defend me. Forgive me for the times I lean on my own understanding. Forgive me for pride, for fear, and for listening to the enemy’s voice. Today, I choose to humble myself and declare that You alone are God. Fight for me, Lord — and let all the world see Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
⸻