Credibility

Isaiah 38:3
“And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.”

The only thing that saved Hezekiah’s life from death when he was stricken by sickness was the life he had previously lived. When he prayed to the LORD he said, “Remember now…” Hezekiah reminded God of what he had not done, what he had done, and how he had done it. It was these three things that caused God to have mercy on Hezekiah and answer his prayer for healing. If Hezekiah had done nothing for the LORD and had lived for the world, he would have died a premature death. It was his ability to be able to remind the LORD about the life he had lived for Him that gave him the credibility to move the LORD to answer his request.

There are many Christians who have no credibility with the LORD because they have no resumé to be able to show the LORD what they have done for Him. Whether or not we like it, God shows through Hezekiah’s life that He allows the Christian’s credibility to be one of the basis to move Him to answer prayer. This brings us to this question, do you have any credibility with the LORD? Could you be like Hezekiah and show God what you have done for Him to move Him to answer whatever prayer you need answered? Three things will help you to build your credibility with the LORD.

First, what you have not done builds your credibility. Hezekiah was able to say that he hadn’t done what the previous kings before him had done. He hadn’t lived the life of the world; therefore, he had the credibility to say to the LORD, “Remember now.” You cannot build credibility with the LORD by living in the world. Living a worldly life does hurt your ability to pray. If the only reason you should stop living a worldly lifestyle is to build your credibility for your prayer life, that is a good enough reason to stop being worldly. One day you are going to need a prayer answered, and you don’t want the worldly lifestyle to be the hindrance to your prayers getting answered.

Second, what you have done builds your credibility with the LORD. There are many Christians who are not living a worldly lifestyle, but they are also not doing anything for the LORD. My friend, I’m glad that you can say you are not living for the world, but are you doing anything for the LORD. Going to church three times a week is not doing anything for the LORD. What accomplishments for the LORD do you have to talk about? If God were looking to hire you, do you have any accomplishments to put on your resumé that gives you credibility with Him? It is good not to be worldly, but it is also important to be sure that you can say that you have done something for the LORD.

Third, how you do things for the LORD builds your credibility. Hezekiah was able to say that he served the LORD with a “perfect heart.” In other words, he didn’t serve the LORD half-heartedly, but he gave every part of his being to serve the LORD. Christian, God doesn’t want part of you to serve Him, but He wants you to give your all when serving Him. When serving the LORD, leave nothing on the field that leaves the regret that wished you had done something more for Him. You will have the credibility with God to get more prayers answered if all three of these areas are something you can remind Him about when you pray.

Author: Allen Domelle