But as for me, I am filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and strength to boldly declare Israel’s sin and rebellion.
Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.
Lord God my Father,
Help me to fine your quiet voice in my noisy thought. Bring your truth on to me and bring your peace to rest on me to protect me from deceit.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the Lord’s fierce anger is already turned against Israel.”
This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. 8They had followed the practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Israel had introduced.
Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways.
You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”
Lord God my Father,
Protect my thoughts and keep darkness from them. Give me wisdom to know when desires not from you creep into my thoughts and keep me heading in your direction. I wish to only have you as my God.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.Make known his praise around the world.6Let all the people of Jerusalem12:6 Hebrew Zion. shout his praise with joy!For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”
Lord God my Father,
Keep me close and aware of the deceiver. I will keep my eyes on you and allow you to lead me. Your plan is perfect, soften my heart so it desires your purpose for me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
When the Lord gives the command, homes both great and small will be smashed to pieces.
But that’s how foolish you are when you turn justice into poison and the sweet fruit of righteousness into bitterness.
And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins.
Lord God my Father,
You are in control of all things, keep me in your desire so I may enhance your desire and not fall from it. Keep me straight on your path.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?
For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind.
“Come back to me and live!5Don’t worship at the pagan altars at Bethel;
You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.
How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!
“I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.22I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.23Away with your noisy hymns of praise!I will not listen to the music of your harps.24Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,an endless river of righteous living.
Lord God my Father,
Give me a heart that is led by you and not my desire. You are perfect and your plan will win anyway. Help me to surrender to you plan in all my thoughts so I may hear your desire before mine and give me the strength to follow you even when it doesn’t make sense.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
Lord God my Father,
You are everything good. Live in me and protect me from evil, send me to do your work. Make my faith strong and keep evil from resting on me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted.
Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath.
For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey him. They provoke him to his face.9The very look on their faces gives them away.
Lord God my Father,
Lift me over the fallen ways of my desire and hold me firm in your grace. Keep me from stumbling and catch me when I fall.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.
The men in charge of the renovation worked hard and made steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it.
The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.
“This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”
Lord God my Father,
Help me to get past my selfish desire and honor you with my thoughts and actions. Help me to work hard in your work to bring honor to your name. Help me to listen and obey your command.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.
His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.
But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall.
Lord God my Father,
Keep my heart directed towards you and protect me from growing proud in your blessing. May I only honor you in all my desires and not desire to be noticed for myself.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh,
The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.
When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
Lord God my Father,
I am grateful for your grace in my life, I am sorry for struggling with your desire for me and falling short. Give me strength and desire to move as you desire and delight in doing your will.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen