This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

 Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!

“You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. 30In your love, you were patient with them for many years.

Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.

36“So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. 37The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”

“We promise together not to neglect the Temple of our God.”

Lord God my Father,

This is a sacred day that I was never promised. Thank you for the opportunity before me. Give me strength to overcome the strongholds that I continue to struggle with and bring your angles close to protect me from poor decisions. Make me new this day and cause the desire to honor you to the front of my thoughts. I wish to remove all strongholds I carry so I may honor you completely.
In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!

But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”

9They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work.

So on October 26:15 Hebrew on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was October 2, 445 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.

Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.”

Lord God my Father,

Protect me as I delight in your presence in the world. Some will be offended and try to attack. Give me strength and the words you desire me to speak or keep me still when words are not needed. Give me courage and peace to witness you well and discernment in this world of lies. Keep guard of my day and bring your peace powerfully on me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

Lord God my Father,

Be on me and allow you hand to rest well with me to protect and bless me in serving you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen8:22 Or charioteers. to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” 23So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.

Lord God my Father,

Quiet my thoughts and draw me close to yours. Give me a stillness that directs me in your way and desire. Place your way in me. Allow me to show your power and grace to those around me in ways that it is obviously not from me but from you. Thank you for this journey weather easy or hard.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious. 10However, he restrained himself and went on home.

That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, 

Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?”

“Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”

Esther replied, “This wicked Haman is our adversary and our enemy.”

Then impale Haman on it!” the king ordered. 10So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.

The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property.

But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole.

Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me humble, keep me from being boastful of my own wisdom. Lord God, I am nothing without your guidance, give me the courage to overcome my compromise in what you want from me. Give me the spiritual strength to boost my emotional strength to do your will. I struggle to do what you desire and become comfortable in my weakness. Give me the courage of Ester and the wisdom of Mordecai. Bless me in ways that inspire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.

If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large sacks3:9 Hebrew 10,000 talents, about 375 tons or 340 metric tons in weight. of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in the royal treasury.”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Lord God my Father,

Bring to me the desire to consult with you on everything I do. Give me the courage to do your will above my own and keep me in your desire and away from the deceiver’s. Give me the determination to do what you ask without delay.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.

Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die,” says the Lord. “But one-third will be left in the land. 9I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

Lord God my Father,

You are perfect beyond my understanding, only you are Holy. Your plan is perfect, and your battle is the only concern. Give me the courage I need to only listen to your True desire and boldness to proclaim it. Separate the good from the compromised and use me to bring your message to the lost to seek you alone.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west.

No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.

11“But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. 

Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to believe in your ability to do your will, keep me from limiting you in my life. Keep me safe from attack and in your Peace. Help me to allow your Truth to be my truth.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’

As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”

 I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

“What are these?” I asked the angel who was talking with me.

Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”

If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. 

Lord God my Father,

Reveal to me my wondering nature. Direct me to be restored to your perfect plan. Keep me from the desire to understand so I may be obedient to your desires alone. Give your discernment so I may not be misled. If you choose me, keep me close and give your focus to my thoughts. Allow your angles to be my protection. Make your authority powerful within my heart.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. 

 But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.

Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.

Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.

Lord God my Father,

Quiet my thoughts so I can hear you. Give me obedience without my thoughts holding me back. Help me to be restored to your plan and away from my limits. Give me courage and strength to live your will alone.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen