Podcast Summary: Day 187 - Praying for Time

Podcast Title: The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Host: Father Mike Schmitz
Release Date: July 6, 2025
Episode: Day 187: Praying for Time

Introduction

In Day 187 of The Bible in a Year podcast, Father Mike Schmitz delves into the intricate narratives of 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 32, alongside the heartfelt prayers found in Psalm 145. This episode, titled "Praying for Time," explores themes of leadership, faithfulness, pride, and the responsible use of time granted by God.

Bible Readings Overview

2 Kings 21:1-26
Father Mike begins by summarizing the reign of King Manasseh of Judah. Starting his rule at just 12 years old, Manasseh's 55-year reign is marked by profound evil in the sight of the Lord. He reinstates idolatrous practices, rebuilds high places previously destroyed by his father Hezekiah, and commits heinous acts including child sacrifice. The Lord condemns Manasseh's actions, prophesying devastation for Jerusalem and Judah as a consequence of their persistent disobedience (2 Kings 21:1-26).

2 Chronicles 32:1-33
Transitioning to 2 Chronicles, Father Mike recounts King Hezekiah's defense against Sennacherib's Assyrian invasion. Hezekiah's strategic measures, including fortifying Jerusalem's walls and rallying the people with unwavering faith in God, lead to divine intervention. An angel sends panic through the Assyrian camp, resulting in Sennacherib's defeat. However, Hezekiah's later years are marred by pride, despite God's blessings and additional lifespan granted through prayer (2 Chronicles 32:1-33).

Psalm 145
The episode also features a recitation of Psalm 145, a hymn of praise extolling God's greatness, mercy, and faithfulness. Father Mike emphasizes the importance of praising God continually and aligning one's life with His will.

Reflections and Insights

Manasseh's Reign and Its Implications
Father Mike reflects on the stark contrast between Hezekiah and his son Manasseh. While Hezekiah is depicted as a righteous king whose faith and reforms were significant, Manasseh's legacy is one of the worst kings in Judah's history. At just 12 years old when he began to reign, Manasseh's long rule led Judah into deeper sin, demonstrating how leadership profoundly impacts a nation's spiritual health.

Hezekiah's Extended Life: A Double-Edged Blessing
A critical point discussed is the 15-year extension of Hezekiah's life granted after his earnest prayer for healing. Rather than using this time to grow in holiness, Hezekiah's final years are characterized by increased pride and complacency. This serves as a cautionary tale about the responsible stewardship of time and blessings received from God.

The Nature of Time and Faithfulness
The central theme revolves around "praying for time"—not merely seeking additional years but requesting the wisdom and grace to utilize those years in alignment with God's purpose. Father Mike underscores the importance of transforming any gifted time into opportunities for spiritual growth and service, rather than succumbing to pride or complacency.

Intergenerational Faith and Responsibility
Highlighting the failures of succeeding generations, Father Mike draws attention to the principle that faith is not inherited but personally embraced. He emphasizes that being a child of God entails individual responsibility in faithfulness, rather than relying on the piety of one's ancestors.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Introduction to the Episode

  • [00:04] Father Mike Schmitz: "Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story."

• On the Nature of Minor Prophets

  • [05:30] Father Mike Schmitz: "The minor prophets aren't called minor because they are less important than the major prophets, but just because they are shorter."

• Reflection on Manasseh's Evil Reign

  • [15:45] Father Mike Schmitz: "Manasseh... is literally one of the worst kings we had. This is just... this begins this downward spiral of the people of Israel because they have turned their back on the Lord."

• Hezekiah's Misuse of Extended Time

  • [35:20] Father Mike Schmitz: "Those last 15 years in Hezekiah's life did not make him a better person... he took more pride upon himself."

• Encouragement for Listeners

  • [50:10] Father Mike Schmitz: "Whatever time we've been given, whatever time we have left, that God uses it to make us better, to make us more like him."

Key Discussions

1. Impact of Leadership on Faithfulness

   • The discussion highlights how kings like Hezekiah and Manasseh significantly influenced Judah's spiritual direction, illustrating the broader principle of leadership affecting communal faithfulness.

2. Responsibility in Receiving Blessings

   • Father Mike stresses the importance of not only seeking God's blessings, such as extended life, but also committing to using these blessings to grow in holiness and serve others.

3. Interplay Between Historical Narratives and Personal Faith

   • By examining biblical accounts, listeners are encouraged to draw parallels to their own lives, understanding how choices impact one's relationship with God and the community.

4. The Role of Prayer in Seeking Time and Transformation

   • The episode emphasizes prayer as a means to seek not just additional time but the transformation of oneself during the time granted by God.

5. Intergenerational Faith and Personal Accountability

   • Father Mike dispels the notion that faith can be inherited through lineage, reinforcing that each individual must cultivate their own relationship with God.

Conclusions

Father Mike Schmitz concludes Day 187 by urging listeners to reflect on how they utilize the time God has granted them. He draws from the biblical narratives of Hezekiah and Manasseh to illustrate the potential pitfalls of misusing blessings and the importance of intentional spiritual growth. The episode serves as a profound reminder that time is a precious gift, to be stewarded wisely in fostering a deeper relationship with God and embodying Christ-like virtues.

He encourages the community to support one another in prayer, seeking both physical and spiritual healing, and to commit to using their time to become better, more faithful followers of Christ. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer, invoking God's guidance in making the most of the time afforded to each individual.

Closing Prayer

Father Mike leads a prayer, asking God to receive the listeners' praise and help them use their time wisely. He prays for personal growth, repentance, and virtue, emphasizing the desire to become more like Jesus Christ regardless of the length of one's life.

Father Mike Schmitz:
"Lord, let not one of our days... help to make us better people, more faithful to you, more repentant of our sins and more virtuous in your grace and your power and your strength. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."
[End of Episode]

Looking Forward
Father Mike hints at upcoming episodes that will feature insights from the prophets, continuing the journey through the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. Listeners can anticipate deeper explorations into prophetic messages and their relevance to contemporary faith.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, reflections, and teachings from Day 187 of The Bible in a Year podcast, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the episode.