The Sun Is the Center of Our Solar System—Why Isn’t God the Center of Our Prayers?
I couldn't imagine being a leader of multiple families with the threat of impending doom lurking down my neck. King Hezekiah had the Assyrian army right outside his wall, and instead of responding with allies or what little military power he had, he went straight to the temple to pray.
These were Hezekiah’s words:
“Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.”
There haven’t been many times I’ve paused and prayed first as a man—because, well, I like to fix things fast. But there’s something powerful about prayer we can learn from Hezekiah.
God is the priority of prayer.
Not comfort. Not even safety.
Reminds me of the early church in Acts. They prayed fervently for boldness to preach the gospel—without slipping in any words about comfort or safety.
By the way, as a former combat vet, let me be clear: there’s nothing wrong with praying for comfort and safety. The point is this: prayer should be God-centered first.
God loves humility.
As a man, I tend to lean on my own strength—what I can do, what I can fix.
Hezekiah? He showed great humility. He didn’t rely on himself. He went straight to God in humility and surrender.
Trust God’s power over earthly forces.
The Assyrians seemed unstoppable.
And just like that, life throws a lot of things at us that feel unstoppable—weather, finances, illness, opposition, personal struggles.
But God.
He is greater than anything that stands against us.
Romans 8:31:
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
The answer was not immediate, but it was certain.
Hezekiah had to wait for God’s response through Isaiah. And then he had to trust in His deliverance.
Man, talk about anxiety. The enemy is outside the gates, and Hezekiah had to just sit there and trust?!
Never Finished Challenge: How to Pray
Before we ask what we want, we should ask why we want it.
Does it bring God glory?
Does it lead others to recognize His power and goodness?
Pause and pray.
I don’t know what situation you’re facing today, but I know this: it is a situation—whether in our families, careers, or spiritual battles, we have to learn to pause and pray. When we do this like it is normal, the effects will be better than goodies powder under the tongue for your headache—they’ll be transformational
Memorize This Verse:
Romans 8:31:"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Also—spend more time with this unstoppable force (aka God in His Word), and you’ll feel more confident when storms come.
When you pray, you often won’t see an immediate breakthrough. But if your prayers align with God’s glory, you can be confident He hears and acts in His perfect timing.
It’s not wrong to ask for personal needs, but our ultimate goal should be to advance His kingdom. Instead of just praying for success, health, or financial provision, we can pray:
“Lord, provide so I can be generous and reflect Your character.”
“Strengthen me in trials so others see Your power in my life.”
“Give me victory in this challenge so I can testify of Your faithfulness.”
For Your Pocket: God-centered prayer brings God-centered miracles.
What Does Today Say About God?
Why does God need to be at the center? Consider the sun and the solar system. ☀️🌍
The sun is at the center. Every planet orbits around it, receiving light, warmth, and life.
If the sun demanded to stay at the center, is that selfish? Nope—because without it, everything would fall into darkness and chaos.
God’s glory is like the sun.
When He is at the center, everything in our lives falls into place. But when we try to replace Him with something else—success, relationships, self-fulfillment—our lives spin into chaos.
Thank you, Jesus!