But that’s how foolish you are when you turn justice into poison
and the sweet fruit of righteousness into bitterness.
“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
Lord God my Father,
Remove my foolish desire and let me live in your Truth. Allow me to share your way with this world and soften the hearts of the lost.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
How you hate honest judges!
How you despise people who tell the truth!
11You trample the poor,
stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.
Lord God my Father,
Give me power over the nature I have developed and restore me to the nature you placed in me. Allow me to see the evil around me and protect me from it landing on me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,
so that we may offer you our praises.14:2 As in Greek and Syriac versions, which read may repay the fruit of our lips;
“Then I will heal you of your faithlessness;
my love will know no bounds,
for my anger will be gone forever.
Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the Lord are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
Lord God my Father,
Forgive my past, my arrogance where I thought I knew better than you. Release your power in me to shape me into your desired child. Protect me from confusion in this fallen world.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
I will show love
to those I called ‘Not loved.’2:23a Hebrew Lo-ruhamah; see 1:6.
And to those I called ‘Not my people,’2:23b Hebrew Lo-ammi; see 1:9.
I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’
And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”
In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness.
O foolish people! You refuse to understand,
so you will be destroyed.
Lord God m Father,
May I follow you and clear my heart of the idols that pull me away from you. You are beyond awesome and I am tired of being a fool. Fill me with your will and remove my past so I may walk with you complete in your presence.
I Jesus name I pray,
Amen
They will do it here to avoid carrying the sacrifices through the outer courtyard and endangering the people by transmitting holiness to them.”
And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’
Lord God my Father,
May I honor you with my actions, remove my sinful way and make me ever present in your way.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Because Egypt31:10 Hebrew you. became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds, 11I will hand it over to a mighty nation that will destroy it as its wickedness deserves.
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live.
Lord God my Father,
Remove my pride, help me to see it. Protect me from arrogance, help me to see myself in the light of truth. May I only serve you and bring you honor.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“Because you said, ‘The Nile River is mine; I made it,’ 10I am now the enemy of both you and your river.
I will destroy the land of Egypt and everything in it
by the hands of foreigners.
Lord God my Father,
I am a selfish, self serving person of this world. Lord God, heal me from the sin I have grown comfortable with and deliver me to your way. Give me strength to destroy my lazy way and be obedient to you.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.
But righteous people will judge these sister cities for what they really are—adulterers and murderers.
I tried to cleanse you,
but you refused.
Lord God my Father,
I wish to be your servant, Purify me. I know it will be painful due to my sinful nature. Take all my sin from my past and forgive me and place in me a pure heart that only turns towards you. I am willing but help me with my struggles to follow you completely.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt.
There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. 12And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who had set them apart to be holy.
“But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days.
Lord God my Father,
Remove my hard hart and make it hard against fighting you. Give me a heart that wants to do life your way, help me to lead others to you by example.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking.
You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign Lord.
And I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. 63You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”
Lord God my Father,
Protect me from myself and keep me from idol worship. I place my faith in you but I struggle with following without distraction. Make me into your servant and protect me from falling. Forgive me for my arrogance and self worship. Give me Life like I can’t imagine, blessed by you.
In Jesus name,
Amen