God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4The Word gave life to everything that was created,1:3-4 Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything. and his life brought light to everyone. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

For the word of God will never fail.1:37 Some manuscripts read For nothing is impossible with God.

Lord God my Father,

Continue you work in me and cause me to become still so you can have your way and reveal your desire to me in my stillness. Your Truth is my essence, help me to find it and allow your work to flow through me. Help me to only focus on what you want from me without me questioning it.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate,

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.2:25 The precise identification of the four kinds of locusts mentioned here is uncertain. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.

I will pardon my people’s crimes, which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the Lord, will make my home in Jerusalem3:21 Hebrew Zion. with my people.”

Lord God my Father,

Create in me a desperate desire to deepen my relationship with you. Bring a single focus to my mind to gaze upon you. Restore me to your design and remove my selfish desires. Forgive me for my arrogance.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!

“The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they received from me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me close to your will and protect me from compromise in your way today. Only in you can I have the delightful day I desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. 

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them,

“But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. 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!

Lord God my Father,

Your mercy is abundant, keep me from turning away from honoring you in all my ways. Use your good Spirit in me to do your will and make my path strait for you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

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