When your face isn’t toward the wall, it’s on everything else. –Pastor Joel Sims

This statement was made in reference to King Hezekiah’s prayer but is so applicable to us today. In fact, it’s a word we should heed seriously.

Hezekiah was only 25 years old when he became king. But the Bible says, “He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done” (2 Kings 18:3). If you remember, David was a young man too when God elevated him into a position of influence.

You would think all the kings of that time did what was pleasing to the Lord, but they didn’t. Idolatry was not only tolerated, it was encouraged. But Hezekiah “removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles…” (verse 4). In other words, at 25 years of age, he had enough wisdom and boldness to say, “That’s enough!”

“Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel; not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. He remained faithful to the Lord and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him, and wherever he went he prospered…” (2 Kings 18:5-7).

This is a man we can emulate. His heart for God and boldness to stand and speak up against things that grieved God is inspiring. But there’s one more thing we can learn from the life of Hezekiah.

Many years later, King Hezekiah became ill and the prophet Isaiah was sent to tell him he wouldn’t recover. “Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Please Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly and done what pleases you.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly [before the Lord]” (2 Kings 20:2-3).

The Bible says Isaiah had barely left the courtyard when God told him to return and tell Hezekiah his prayer had been heard and 15 years would be added to his life.

Prayer can change God’s mind.

God knows the end from the beginning. And yet, He has asked us to pray and seek His face– not just to learn His heart and ways but to commune with Him and pour our heart out to Him. Hezekiah isn’t the first one to change God’s mind. Abraham interceded on behalf of righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah and God relented.

Prayer is God’s appointed means to accomplish His appointed plans.

But here’s the problem: in our world today, there are so many things that can pull us away from prayer. Our brains have been trained to need (literally need) non-stop entertainment. And we’ve been slow to realize the enemy’s agenda in this targeted strategy.

When we, like Hezekiah, turn everything else off and intentionally turn our face to the wall to seek God alone, we can have the same results — length of days and strength of days.

Psalm 25:14 in the Passion Translation says, “There’s a private place reserved for the devoted lovers of Yahweh, where they sit near Him and receive the revelation-secrets of His promises.”

I have spent many years rising early to sit with the Lord. His Word has been a place of sweet devotion in my life. But recently, the Lord prompted me to do more– to turn my face away from all that distracts. In other words, turn my face to the wall (to more of Him).

This nudge wasn’t necessarily to spend more time with the Lord in my quiet time, but to make my life (each day) more quiet. This meant less time on my phone and more time tuning my heart to the things around me; specifically His voice.

God is consecrating His people.

Consecration simply means to be set apart. There is a work God is doing in the earth today that is different than times past. It’s an end-time work. Is this for the whole body of Christ? or just me? I don’t know. I believe it’s an invitation to whoever will hear and accept it.

Can I encourage you to pray? Turn your face to the wall and seek God. I have no doubt there are things specific to your life that He wants to reveal to you– things you don’t want to miss.