Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes

But 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.”

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,75in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

Lord God my Father,

Shape my heart to your desire, allow me to believe in faith, not proof. Make me your servant and give me confidence in serving you only.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.

You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to identify where my heart is not rite with you. Remove my greed that keeps me from trusting you completely. Your plan is perfect, yet I ponder it and change it to suit me. Continue to reveal to me the struggles I have with you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

all outstanding men.

 God had given the people cause for great joy.

Instead, they hired Balaam to curse them, though our God turned the curse into a blessing.

I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?”

Lord God my Father,

Make me outstanding, give me protection over deceit and keep me in your will.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. 27So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. 

“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!

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

Lord God my Father,

Change me back to your design and away from my rebellious nature. Protect me as your Peace is becoming known to me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

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 I continued the work with even greater determination.

I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.

Lord God my Father,

Protect me and give me discernment and boldness to live your will without distraction from those who make up lies to mislead others.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me.

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! 

 Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

Lord God my Father,

Your word is Truth, help me to live in it. Grant me success today so I may share your Truth well with others. Protect me from the lies of this world and keep me on the front line of your battles and under your authority.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons? 

“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.

‘The land you are entering to possess is totally defiled by the detestable practices of the people living there. From one end to the other, the land is filled with corruption.

Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

Lord God my Father,

Bring me closer to you and use me for your glory. Protect me and give me boldness in your Truth and cleanse me of my past and give me integrity. Cause me to honor you in all my actions and thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!” 

Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him,

 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,

Please allow the plans of evil to reverse back on those who ponder it and bring us back to your Grace. Bring us back to a place where we please you and desire you only. Make us great in our Love of you and others.

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.

. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

” This pleased Haman, and he ordered the pole set up.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me in wise council and protect my decisions so I may please you in all of them. Give me boldness in following your plan with boldness and humility, keep me from arrogance that will destroy me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“And on that day,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will erase idol worship throughout the land, so that even the names of the idols will be forgotten. I will remove from the land both the false prophets and the spirit of impurity that came with them.

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.

Lord God my Father,

Purify my heart to only worship you, remove my desire to put my focus anywhere else. You are the only worthy desire, I will not enjoy purification, but the suffering will be worth it.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen