I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”

Then at last the people will look to their Creator and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. 8They will no longer look to their idols for help or worship what their own hands have made.

I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal.

Lord God my Father,

Cause me to be still and know you, direct my thoughts and actions. Protect my attitude and fill me so powerfully with your Love that I can only smile this day. Move me closer to you and farther from deceit.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“My care for the people of Judah is like the gently flowing waters of Shiloah, but they have rejected it.

For they are all wicked hypocrites, and they all speak foolishness.

Lord God my Father,

Restore your place on my heart so I may share you well. Remove my wicked desires and allow your Peace to be my strength.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

And why is this happening?

Because of the rebellion of Israel1:5 Hebrew Jacob; also in 1:5b. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.—

yes, the sins of the whole nation.

Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion?

Samaria, its capital city!

Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”

Lord God my Father,

Give me an obedient heart, protect me from a wondering desire. Help me to rest and not rebel against your desire for me. Give me a faith that stands against compromise.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“O Sovereign Lord, please forgive us or we will not survive, for Israel7:2 Hebrew Jacob; also in :5. See note on 3:13. is so small.” 3So the Lord relented from this plan. “I will not do it,” he said.

And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. 9The pagan shrines of your ancestors7:9 Hebrew of Isaac. will be ruined, and the temples of Israel will be destroyed; I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end.”

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

9And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,

Lord God my Father,

Oh, I am a sinner and I need your Truth to guide me. Forgive me from my past and allow me to live today as you desire, I wish to live your will today. I know your power is perfect and my only hope is in you. Use me as you wish and give me the courage and strength needed to overcome my nature.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.

How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth! 11You trample the poor,

So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time. 14Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!

Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. 15Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.

I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.

Lord God my Father,

Cause me to return to you wholeheartedly and live my your desire. Keep me from speaking without your desire behind the words. Help me to do your will alone and be fair and just.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not wholeheartedly.

“Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”

16But the king interrupted him and said, “Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!”

So the prophet stopped with this warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.”

But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.

I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”

I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”

Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to know and destroy all of the false idols I may carry and only have you as my God. Give me discernment to only desire your pleasing way and strength to avoid distraction. Guide and direct my attention and make me stubborn in your way alone. Make me obedient to you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord heard his prayer,

But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam.

Lord God my Father,

Help me in this day to first ask for your desire and will. Give me strength and focus to do our will without delay and protect me from procrastination.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: 

All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

“Why haven’t you repaired the Temple? Don’t use any more money for your own needs. From now on, it must all be spent on Temple repairs.” 8So the priests agreed not to accept any more money from the people, and they also agreed to let others take responsibility for repairing the Temple.

They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it.

But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. 18They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors,

, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”

Lord God my Father,

Give me courage to do your will in the darkness, I wish to only act in a way that is pleasing to you. Give me a strength and determination to only do your will and move away from my own. I want all my efforts to glorify you. Lord God, give discernment to your people and keep us on the path of your desire and expose the darkness for what it is so we may prosper.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died.

 But Jehu’s cunning plan was to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.

In this way, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from breaking your heart, help me to find and kill all my sin nature. Restore me to your design and move me from my desires. Help me to destroy every idle in my life.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!

Lord God my Father,

Help me to follow your plan when I don’t understand it. Keep me from “fixing” your strategy.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen