No more me!

You have been that way since childhood— you simply will not obey me! 22And now the wind will blow away your allies. All your friends will be taken away as captives. Surely then you will see your wickedness and be ashamed.

Lord God my Father,

Change me, protect me from my past self and deliver me to who you designed me to be. I wish to serve you, not me, but I struggle. I need your strength to make this happen. Thank you for not giving up on me, ever!

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Delightful strength

The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer,3:19 Or He gives me the speed of a deer. able to tread upon the heights.

Your silver and gold will not save you on that day of the Lord’s anger. For the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy.

They will rest at night in the abandoned houses in Ashkelon. For the Lord their God will visit his people in kindness and restore their prosperity again.

Lord God my Father,

You are my purpose and strength, I am nothing without you. Thank you for your plan and keep me close so I don’t look away from you. Help me to surrender to your delight and represent you well today.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

One desire

There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple. 3The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. 

Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols,23:24 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung. and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah.

The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies!

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. 8But he will sweep away his enemies

Lord God my Father,

Expose your Truth in my life and direct me on how to release my brokenness to your healing. Restore me to be bold under your authority and sold out to doing this life your way. You are the only thing worthy of my obedience, protect me for Satan’s attempt at distraction. You are my strength and desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Restored

But don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.”

You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. 20So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’”

Lord God my Father,

Soften my heart and reshape it into your desire. Help me to be the man you created me to be. I desire to experience life as you desire it to be and share your delight.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

My God

Let us now lie down in shame and cover ourselves with dishonor, for we and our ancestors have sinned against the Lord our God. From our childhood to this day we have never obeyed him.”

“if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more. 2Then when you swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name.”

Lord God my Father,

I am a sinner by my sin nature, Lord God, I can only be made good by you. Your forgiveness is my only hope at Peace. Thank you for pursuing me without ever letting up and being there for me when I fall. Your delight is all I need to know you and follow you. Thank you for being my God.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

So close

He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. 

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. 11So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner.

And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.

And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

Lord God my Father,

Give me the strength to keep my focus on you and in that strength keep me from my sin nature and wondering from your presence. I wish to hear your every desire and place it in my heart. I am so broken and distracted by my own desire and wish to be restored to who you say I am. Thank you for your patience and your perfect plan, for every struggle I have endured is now being use to reveal how close you are to me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Close, protected.

Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past. 17 Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?

Lord God my Father,

Thank you for giving me free will but I need to stay close to you or I will wonder from your design. Keep me close and allow your Peace to rest in me and give me discernment for when I begin to stray and strength to keep my focus on you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

One authority.

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. 14Then the Lord will be your delight.

Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. 15Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done.

In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. 10But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he became their enemy and fought against them.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to understand what a Sabbath looks like in my life, how to pursue you above my own desires. Help me to take a stand under your authority in this broken world to share your Truth in ways it can be heard. Your love is the power to restore all things. Keep me from wondering out from under your authority. Forgive me for my sin nature.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Strength in Peace

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12You will live in joy and peace.

I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, 19bringing words of praise to their lips.

“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. 21There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me close and correct my path when I wonder off. Keep wicked from finding me and allow me to see it when it tempts me. Your way is delightful and what my heart desires. Have mercy on the lost and open their eyes to see and allow your peace to rest on their hearts. Allow your Peace to be my strength.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

His victory

“But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.

But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.

All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.

Lord God my Father,

Give me confidence in your plan and help me to look past the darkness around me. Keep me from looking away from you and thinking I am strong without you. Your victory is all I need.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen