“Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply,“for you are the Lord our God. Our worship of idols on the hills and our religious orgies on the mountains are a delusion. Only in the Lord our God will Israel ever find salvation. From childhood we have watched as everything our ancestors worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters—was squandered on a delusion. Let us now lie down in shame and cover ourselves with dishonor,for we and our ancestors have sinned against the Lord our God.From our childhood to this day we have never obeyed him.”

Yet you say to me,‘Father, you have been my guide since my youth.5Surely you won’t be angry forever!Surely you can forget about it!’So you talk,but you keep on doing all the evil you can.”

“Return home, you wayward children,”says the Lord,

“if you wanted to return to me, you could.You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more. Then when you swear by my name, saying,‘As surely as the Lord lives,’you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness.Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,and all people would come and praise my name.”

“My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord.“They are stupid children who have no understanding.They are clever enough at doing wrong,but they have no idea how to do right!”

Lord God my Father,

Expose my idols, allow me to see my weakness and turn away from it. Use me for your desire, Give me your wisdom in my thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings.

“Get up and prepare for action.Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.Do not be afraid of them,or I will make you look foolish in front of them. 18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured,like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.You will stand against the whole land—the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. 19 They will fight you, but they will fail.For I am with you, and I will take care of you.I, the Lord, have spoken!”

“For my people have done two evil things:They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water.And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him.I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!

Lord God my Father,

Help me to hear, Open my heart to your desire. He it to grow so strong I am blind to distraction. Give me courage and boldness to speak your Truth only.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?Return and help us, for we are your servants,

You welcome those who gladly do good,who follow godly ways.But you have been very angry with us,for we are not godly.We are constant sinners;how can people like us be saved?6We are all infected and impure with sin.When we display our righteous deeds,they are nothing but filthy rags.Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,and our sins sweep us away like the wind.7Yet no one calls on your nameor pleads with you for mercy.Therefore, you have turned away from usand turned us over64:7 As in Greek, Syriac, and Aramaic versions; Hebrew reads melted us. to our sins.

The Lord says,“I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’to a nation that did not call on my name.

Lord God my Father,

Come in and have your way. Soften the hearts of the lost and strengthen the hearts of your people to do your will.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry,and help those in trouble.Then your light will shine out from the darkness,and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

“Keep the Sabbath day holy.Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,but enjoy the Sabbathand speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.14Then the Lord will be your delight.I will give you great honor

We know we have rebelled and have denied the Lord.We have turned our backs on our God.We know how unfair and oppressive we have been,carefully planning our deceitful lies.14Our courts oppose the righteous,and justice is nowhere to be found.Truth stumbles in the streets,and honesty has been outlawed.15Yes, truth is gone,and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.

For the time has come for me to avenge my people,to ransom them from their oppressors.5I was amazed to see that no one intervenedto help the oppressed.So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm,

Lord God my Father,

Purify me and make my thoughts pure so all I am may honor you. Use me to do your will and be your light in the darkness.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear,but even then my faithful love for you will remain.My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

Seek the Lord while you can find him.Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

I will lead them.I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips.May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”says the Lord, who heals them. “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked,”says my God.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to accept your peace and allow you to do your job without interfering. Allow your peace to rest well and keep me alert to your calling.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Listen to me, you who know right from wrong,you who cherish my law in your hearts.Do not be afraid of people’s scorn,nor fear their insults.

Wake up, wake up, O Lord! Clothe yourself with strength!Flex your mighty right arm!Rouse yourself as in the days of old when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile. Are you not the same today,the one who dried up the sea,making a path of escape through the depths so that your people could cross over?

What is this?” asks the Lord. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long. But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.”

Lord God my Father,

Open my heart to only listen for you, protect me from the way of the world around me. Give me your direction, fight the battle and use me as you see fit.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen.

“You felt secure in your wickedness.‘No one sees me,’ you said.But your ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ have led you astray,and you said, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.’11So disaster will overtake you,and you won’t be able to charm it away.Calamity will fall upon you,and you won’t be able to buy your way out.A catastrophe will strike you suddenly,one for which you are not prepared.

For I will fight those who fight you,and I will save your children.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,I will not be disgraced.Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,determined to do his will.And I know that I will not be put to shame.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires.This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.

Lord God my Father,

Allow me to be secure in your presence, protect me from the evil one and his desire. Help me to be at peace under your authority.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Clear the way through the wildernessfor the Lord!Make a straight highway through the wastelandfor our God!

Because he is righteous,the Lord has exalted his glorious law.22But his own people have been robbed and plundered,enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped.They are fair game for anyoneand have no one to protect them,no one to take them back home.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me in your grace and allow me to follow only you. Remove my past and give me peace in the present, make me your Light.

“Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

Now I will walk humbly throughout my yearsbecause of this anguish I have felt.16Lord, your discipline is good,for it leads to life and health.

Lord God my Father,

I wish to be faithful only to you. Expose in me areas I need to surrender to you. Keep me under your authority and protect me from Satan’s power.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king’s messengers. Listen! I myself will move against him,

What makes you think your God can rescue you from me?

I say it again—no god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!”

That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians Hebrew When they. woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land.

Lord God my Father,

You are more than able to protect yourself. Free me from the control I desire to do your job. Keep me focused in your desire for me. Help me to trust without conditions.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen