But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done.

Lord God my Father,

Restore your people, humble those who laugh at the destruction of relationships. Bring unity under your authority and restore you plan to the desire of all hearts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 Perhaps the Lord will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as he has done in the past. 

I myself will fight against you with a strong hand and a powerful arm, for I am very angry. You have made me furious! 

Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor.

Lord God my Father,

You are creator and sustainer; you carry everything in your hand. Lore God, bring a stillness to me that allows me to hear only your desire and use me for your Glory. Keep me from your wrath and disappointment. Protect me from desiring anything other than you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! 18You show unfailing love to thousands,

Even though I diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey. 34They have set up their abominable idols right in my own Temple, defiling it.

For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord.

But this is what the Lord says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky. 

Lord God my Father,

You are God, all powerful, ruler over all. Thank you for who you are, cause me to seek to be under your authority and not my own. My way is sinful, yours is delightful. Give me the focus and desire to restore this temple to your delightful design and ability to do your will in all things. Direct me without compromise weakening my actions. I want to be restored and I pray restoration over your people.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Because you are all worthless slag, I will bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem. 20Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury. 21I will gather you together and blow the fire of my anger upon you, 22and you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.’”

From your room came the sound of many men carousing. They were lustful men and drunkards23:42 Or Sabeans.

Lord God my Father,

You are my all, your Truth and Grace define me and give me hope. Keep me close and protect me from sinful desires.

In Jesus name I pray

Amen

I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

O city of murderers, doomed and damned—city of idols,22:3 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; also in 22:4. filthy and foul— 4you are guilty because of the blood you have shed. You are defiled because of the idols you have made. Your day of destruction has come! You have reached the end of your years.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me close so I don’t earn your wrath, use me to encourage the lost to seek you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. 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!”

Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. 

“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.

Lord God my Father,

You are God, everything knows this. Help me to be strong in my desire to do your will and protected from my sin nature. I want to represent you well and allow the lost to see you in me and desire to find you. Use me as you wish and keep me from thinking about your desire and just be obedient.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I, the Lord, will answer all those, both Israelites and foreigners, who reject me and set up idols in their hearts and so fall into sin, and who then come to a prophet asking for my advice. 8I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen?

“But someday I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and Samaria, and I will restore you, too. 54Then you will be truly ashamed of everything you have done, for your sins make them feel good in comparison.

Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me so close that I am aware of wandering off, come and get me and discipline me before I get lost. Help me to use your gifts wisely and bring Glory to you alone. Restore the broken so we can delight together in your healing. Help me to be ever mindful of my motives.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.”

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,11:19 Hebrew a heart of flesh. 20so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

So I did as I was told. In broad daylight I brought my pack outside, filled with the things I might carry into exile.

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because what you say is false and your visions are a lie, I will stand against you, says the Sovereign Lord. 

For I will rescue my people from your grasp. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

Lord God my Father,

Give me a heart that will not stray from you, keep me protected in your will. I want to be obedient and only desire what is good and never bring darkness to your name. Your rescue is all that matters.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover.

“Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger? 18Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen.”

“Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”

Then I heard the Lord say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! 6Kill them all—old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. 

Then the man in linen clothing, who carried the writer’s case, reported back and said, “I have done as you commanded.”

Lord God my Father,

Protect my thoughts and actions, help me to know when the deceiver is nearby. Help me to witness well to those who don’t know you and bring your grace forward. Use me to do your work well.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”

You have broken a wooden yoke, but you have replaced it with a yoke of iron. 

Lord God my Father,

Make me only desire righteous behavior and give me strength to overlook obstacles so I am not distracted. Help me to have your discernment of Truth and carry your yoke well.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen