Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.3:6 Greek what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Lord God my Father,

Open my heart to experience life as you desire. Bring a faith to me on your terms and not mine. You are the answer to all things good and bad in my life, allow me to turn my test into your testimony. Protect me from falling into your judgment, keep me close. Allow your spirit in me to overflow.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ 4:10 Deut 6:13. ”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

 “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Lord God my Father,

Give me a spirit that is only obedient to you, protect my thoughts and allow me to see deceit before it reaches my thoughts. Give me courage to act on your desire before my thoughts dilute it. Give me a heart that never doubts who you are and cause me to destroy the compromise I have allowed in my heart.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

“Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 

Lord God my Father,

Give me a spirit that is still so I may hear you. Give me obedience so I may do what you ask me to do and use me to share your Truth to those around me. Allow me to represent you well.

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

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded 

He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Lord God my Father,

I know you will do what you say, allow me to see your will and not question it, cause me to be obedient. Reveal your light through me and allow me to share you in all things.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

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