Month: July 2020

Trusting Promise of the Lord

Backgrounder: David’s greatest
dream is to build a house for God.
Though David is not permitted
to build a house for God, God
will build a house for David –
a perpetual dynasty and kingdom.
In peacetime and war, thro times
of faithfulness & faltering in David’s
life, God remains true to His promise
by preserving the line of David.

Lord, Your Will & Way is Better:
King David went in and sat before
the Lord and prayed: Who am I
O Lord God, and what is my family
that You have brought me this far…
Lord, let the promise You have
made concerning Your servant and
his house be established forever.
Do as You promised so that it will
be established & that Your name
will be great forever. Then men
will say: The Lord Almighty, the
God over Israel, is Israel’s God!
And the house of Your servant
David will be established
before You (1 Chr 17:16, 23-24).

Lord, Your ways are higher than
mine; and You have plans for
me that I cannot even fathom.
Yet it is easy to bask in my successes and forget that
it is You who have blessed me.
Lord, let me tell someone about
the goodness of God. Help me
to lift Your name high for all
to see. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord, we confess disappointment
when our prayers are not answered
the way we wanted them to be.
But my greatest blessing will come
about because of Your will being
done in my life. And what You
have for me is far greater than
what I can imagine for myself.
Forgive me for any time I did
not trust that to be true. Amen.

Lord, help us whenever we sense
that You God is saying no to
our prayer, not to focus on the
disappointment over not having
our will be done. For if we do
that, we may miss out the joy of
something much better that can
come about if God’s will is done.
For God’s will is better than
anything we can imagine. Amen.

Inquiring Lord First Before Doing

The ark of covenant is prominent
in Chronicles being mentioned
more than 40 times. So the events
surrounding the journey of the ark
to Jerusalem consume three full
chapters in 13-15. The lesson
is clear: The right action must
be done with the right motives
and carried out in the right way.
When the ark is at last installed
in Jerusalem, David leads the
people in national celebration.

Lord, we’ll Inquire & Hear from You:
The Philistines had arrived in the
valley of Rephaim and raided it.
So David ASKED God: Should I go
out to fight the Philistines? Will You
hand them over to me? The Lord
replied: YES, go ahead. I will give
you the victory… But after a while,
the Philistines returned and raided
the valley again. And once again
David ASKED God what to do.
DO NOT Attack them straight on,
God replied. Instead, circle around
behind them and attack them near
the balsam trees (1 Chron 14:9-14).

Lord, I ask You concerning my
situation that I’m facing & I don’t
want to run ahead of Your plan.
Help me follow David’s example and
seek Your wisdom first in the matter.
For only then can I be truly sure
that I will be following Your plan.
And guide my actions O Lord
by Your wisdom and truth.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, You are the one who knows
everything whilst I don’t know all
the questions of what, how & when.
And I need to learn to Seek Your
advice in life’s decisions and lead
me down the path to recovery and
into a life of purpose and destiny.
Rescue me from inner turmoil and
teach me to ask questions that
begin with: Should I Lord? Amen.

Lord, I pray that I will always inquire
of You first before I take action.
I don’t assume that just because
You had instructed me in a certain
fashion before, that You’ll instruct
me in the same way each time
I am faced with a similar situation.
And I don’t want to mistakenly think
I have all the answers when only
You have all the answers for my life.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Boldly Pray Jabez Prayer (Jul 6)

Chronicles give a priestly account
on the history of God’s people,
a sort of divine commentary on
the kingdom period. It carefully
weds the nation’s history with the
active hand of God in Israel’s affairs
Chronicles centers on the southern
kingdom of Judah. First Chronicles
opens with a lengthy genealogy
tracing the line of David all the way
back to Adam. The genealogies
provide clear evidence of God
at work throughout history, by
selecting a people for Himself and
then protecting a family within
that people to provide leadership.

Lord, we Boldly Seek Your Blessing:
The sons of Judah were Perez,
Hezron, Carmi, Hur and Shobai.
And Reaiah the son of Shobai begot
Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai…
Now Jabez was more honourable
than his brothers, and his mother
called his name Jabez, saying:
“Because I bore him in pain.” And
Jabez called on the God of Israel
saying: “Oh, that You would bless
me indeed & enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me &
that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”
So God granted him what he requested (1 Chron 4:1-2, 9-10).

Lord, thank You for putting Jabez
and his prayer in the scripture.
Thank You for loving us and
for being just as accessible
to us as You were to Jabez.
Thanks for wondrously good plans
for us and that through prayer
we can appropriate them to us.
Let me never take the privilege
of prayer for granted. And thank
You for hearing my prayers. Amen.

Lord, I thank You for Your goodness all that You have been giving me.
I pray for Your continued blessings, provision, guidance and protection.
And I pray that Your presence will
always be with me wherever I go
and no matter what happens.
Grateful You are pleased to share Yourself & Your kingdom with me.
Enable me to give back to You by
helping and blessing others. Amen.

Lord, I would love an easy life, free
of trouble and confusion; but You
have not promised such existence.
For Your goal for us is not purely earthly bliss, but Your glory
brought about thro our maturity.
So Lord, give me wisdom and courage so that I am willing to
walk with You wherever You lead.
Trust that when I seek You and
Your kingdom, all these things
will also be given to me. Amen.

Seek First His Kingdom (Jun 29)

In the final hours before his death,
David charges Solomon to walk
before the Lord in integrity and
truth – a request which Solomon
fulfills in the early days of his reign
by ruling with justice, humility
and honesty before God and man.
Presented with a “blank cheque”
by God, Solomon asks for wisdom
to rule skilfully rather than wealth.
In return, God Gives him both!

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to
Solomon: Ask! What shall I Give u?
And Solomon said: O Lord my God,
You have made Your servant king…
Therefore give to Your servant
an understanding heart to judge
Your people, that I may discern
between good and evil. For who
is able to judge this great people
of Yours? The speech pleased
the Lord that Solomon had asked
this thing. Then God said to him:
Because you have asked this thing
understanding to discern justice…
I have given you a wise and
understanding heart, so that there
has not been anyone like you…
And I have also given you what
you have not asked: both riches
and honour, so that there shall
not be anyone like you among
kings all your days (1Kgs 3:5-13).

Lord, we are grateful that whenever
we are lost or unsure of what to do,
we can always seek You for wisdom.
Thank You for Your divine wisdom,
which we can readily find in Your
Word as well as asking You for it.
Your word assures if I lack wisdom,
I can ask God who gives generously.
Thank You that the wisdom from
heaven is full of good fruit. Amen.

Lord, help us seek Your wisdom.
Open my ears to it and help me to
recognise wisdom when I hear it.
Give me the wisdom to know
what to do, how to do and the
courage to follow through on it.
And we know that even as we put
You God and Your agenda first
that You will satisfy all our needs.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, help us not only to hear
and meditate on Your Words but
also to put them into practice
so that we can be like a wise man
who built his house on the rock.
Help us to be careful how we live,
not as the unwise but as wise,
making most of every opportunity
to be a source of blessing and to
lead others to Your kingdom. Amen

Invitation for Redemption (July 5)

Today’s scripture passages show
the horrible price of our redemption
and the anguish our Saviour endured
in paying the awful price of sin.
His visage was so marred more
than any man (52:14). He was
wounded… he was bruised… and
with His stripes we are healed (53:5)
The Lord laid on Him the iniquity
of us all (53:6). He was cut off
out of the land of the living (53:8).
The Lord… put Him to grief…
He poured out His soul unto death…
& He bare the sin of many (53:10-12)

Father God, we praise You that
You are Holy but yet Loving and
that You plan Restoration for Man.
Thank You Lord Jesus Son of God
for coming as Suffering Servant
to make Your soul an offering for
sin and to bear the sin of many.
Lord, we Humble Before You;
Lord, we Trust In Your Word; and
Lord, we Wait for Your Restoration.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we Wait for Restoration:
Sing, O barren woman, you who
never bore a child; burst into song,
shout for joy, you who never
in labour; because more are the
children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,
says the Lord (Isaiah 54:1).
For a mere moment I have forsaken
you, but with great mercies I will
gather you. With a little wrath I hid
My face from you for a moment;
but with everlasting kindness I will
have mercy on you, says the Lord,
your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8).
Lord, Your Word says to sing praise
in the face of unfruitful situations
in our lives. So even when prayers
seem to be unanswered I will still
praise You because I know that
You can breathe life to any situation
even one that appears to be dead.
Help me Lord to always trust that
You have heard my prayers & have
not forgotten my response. Amen.

Lord, we Trust In Your Word:
As the rain come down from heaven
and do not return to it without
watering the earth and making it
bud and flourish… so is my word
that goes out: It will not return
to me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire & achieve the purpose
for which I sent it (Isa 55:10-11).
Lord, Thank You that Your Word
always accomplish the purpose
for which You sent it. Even when
my prayers seem unanswered,
help me to always trust You can
breathe life into the situation.
And enable me to secure the power
that is in Your Word by planting
it so firmly in my heart that
it guides everything I do. Amen

Lord, we Humble before You:
The Holy One says this: I live
in the high and holy place with
those whose spirits are contrite
and humble. I refresh the humble
and give new courage to those
with repentant hearts. For I will
not content forever, nor will I
always be angry (Isa 57:15-16).
Lord, You are high and lifted up,
glorious and exalted, and I’m not.
I bow before You and ask You to
develop in me a heart of humility.
Your Word says that You will not
despise a repentant heart, and so
I ask You to work that in me. Amen.

Pathway to Restoration (July 4)

For the people of God, the path of
restoration is the path of servant-
hood and suffering. There is coming
One who will pardon iniquity and
will restore righteousness to Zion.
In contrast to the rebellion of Israel,
this Servant will come willingly
and humbly to offer Himself
as a sacrifice for many (50:6).
Therefore, the faithful ones are
called upon to hearken to God’s
voice for righteousness is near.

Father God, we praise You that
You are Holy but yet Loving and
that You plan Restoration for Man.
Lord Jesus, Thank You for paying
the price for our sins, pardoning
us and restoring righteousness.
Lord, we appreciate Your Comfort.
Lord, we appreciate Your Guidance.
Lord,we appreciate Your Deliverance.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we appreciate Your Comfort:
Short for joy, you heavens; rejoice you earth; burst into song you mountains! For the Lord comforts
His people and will have compassion
on His afflicted ones (Isa 49:13).
I would not forget you! See I have
written your name on the palm
of my hands (Isaiah 49:15-16).
Lord, I need Your comfort; for the
hurt goes deep. I need to know
that there is a purpose for the pain.
I need to know it will not be wasted.
I need to feel the comfort that only
You the compassionate can give.
Lord, thanks for choosing me,
thank You for holding me close;
and thank You for writing my
name on the palms of Your hands.
Lord, out of gratitude, I purpose
to spend the rest of my life loving
You with all that I have got. Amen.

Lord, we appreciate Your Guidance:
Morning by morning U awaken me,
waken my ear to listen as those
who are taught. The Lord God
has opened My ear and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away…
For the Lord God will help Me;
therefore I will not be disgraced…
If you are walking in darkness, with
-out a ray of light, trust in the Lord
and rely on your God (Isa 50:4-10).
Lord, I do want an undivided heart
for the natural tendency of my heart
is independence & stray from You.
Renew the singular focus of my
heart with affection toward You.
Guide my mind away from what
that will make me double-minded.
Grant me strength to choose good
when my affections are divided. And
Lord I trust when I am lost and can’t
see light, that You will lead me into
places of peace & abundance.Amen

Lord,we appreciate Your Deliverance:
Listen to me, all who hope for
deliverance, all who seek the Lord!..
The Lord will comfort Israel again
and have pity on her ruins. Her
desert will blossom like Eden…
Joy & gladness will be found there…
Listen to me my people… My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way (Isa 51:1-5).
Those who have been ransomed
by the Lord will return. They will
enter Jerusalem singing, crowned
with everlasting joy. Sorrow and
mourning will disappear & they will
be filled with joy and gladness (v11).
Lord, Thank You for being with us,
helping us & delivering us from evil.
Thank You for the joy & gladness
of having been ransomed by You.
And we surrender our lives to You.
In Jesus’mighty name we pray.Amen

Obedience or Indifference (July 4)

During this week we learn several
key lessons on the importance of Trust & Obey to position ourselves
in order to encounter His presence.
On Monday, we learn from Solomon
in 1Kings 1 to Seek First His Kingdom.
On Tuesday, we learn from Solomon
in 1 Kings 8 to Trust God’s Plan.
On Wednesday, we learn from Elijah
in 1 Kgs 17 to Trust God’s Provision.
On Thursday, we learn from Elijah
in 1Kgs 18 to Pray Earnestly In Faith.
On Friday, we learn from Elijah in
1Kgs 19 Be Attentive to God’s Voice.

Be Attentive to God’s Voice (Jul 3)

I Kings 15 begins a pattern that
will extend throughout the rest of
1 and 2 Kings. The writer flip-flops
in his account between the nations
of Israel and Judah. He traces
the parallel stories of two nations
in spiritual decline, taking time
occasionally to highlight a prophet
or a king who contributes greatly
to spirituality of one of the nations.
Today we centre around Elijah the prophet who courageously faces
a heathen Israelite king and 850 pagan prophets of Baal, only to
flee for his life from Queen Jezebel.

Lord, we’ll Be Alert to Your Voice:
As Elijah stood there, the Lord
passed by and a mighty windstorm
hit the mountain… but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there
was an earthquake, but the Lord
was not in the earthquake. And after
the earthquake there was a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle Whisper…
What are you doing here Elijah?
I alone am left and they seek to take
my life… Then the Lord said: Go…
anoint Hazard as king over Syria…
anoint Jehu as king over Israel…
anoint Elisha as prophet in yr place…
Whoever escape sword of Hazael,
Jehu will kill and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
Yet I’ve reserved 7,000 in Israel who
have not bowed to Baal(IKgs19:11-18)

Lord, we note centuries earlier,
that You had spoken to Moses
amid thunder & lightning, a thick
cloud of smoke & a blast of horn.
Now in the very same mountain,
Elijah facing similar phenomena,
yet he hears God’s voice only in
the gentle whisper. That shows
that You have different ways of
dealing with people at different
times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, You are sovereign and Your
communication to us is varied and
we can’t focus on particular mode.
Help me to be ready for what You
want to say, however You want
to say it. Help me to remain Alert
to Your voice in all of its forms.
Make my spirit to be sensitive
to You at all times. Shout to me,
whisper to me, speak however
You want, for I’m listening. Amen.

Lord, I really want to hear from
You more often than ever before.
I am willing to risk failure and
believe that I have heard from You.
Help me discern which whispers
are Yours and which are not Yours.
But let me never be so kiasu and
‘discerning’ that I deny Your voice
along with others. Give me ears
Lord to hear Your voice. Amen.

Pray Earnestly In Faith (Jul 2)

From 1 Kings 15 onwards show
the two nations of Israel & Judah
in spiritual decline; taking time
occasionally to highlight a prophet
(such as Elijah) or a king (like Ahab)
who contributes significantly to the
spirituality of one of the nations.
Prophet Elijah courageously faces
a heathen Israelite king and 850 pagan prophets of Baal, prayed
persistently for rain, only to flee
for his life from Queen Jezebel.

Lord, we’ll Pray Earnestly In Faith:
Elijah said: How long will you falter
between two opinions? If the Lord
is God follow; but if Baal follow him.
I alone am left a prophet of the Lord
but Baal’s prophets are 450 men…
Elijah prayed: O Lord, answer me!
Answer me so these people will
know that You, O Lord are God…
The fire of the Lord flashed down
from heaven and burned up the
young bull. It even lick up all the
water in the ditch! And when
the people saw it, they fell on
their faces & cried out: The Lord
is God! (I Kings 18:2-4, 37-39).
Then Elijah said to Ahab: there is
the sound of abundance of rain…
And Elijah… said to his servant: Go up, look toward the sea…. There is nothing. And 7 times he said: Go again… Now it happened … that the sky became black with clouds and there was a heavy rain (v41-45).

Lord, I pray You will help me to have
strong faith to believe You will do great things in response to prayers.
Your word tells of the miraculous
things You have done for people,
and I know You are the same today
& in the future as U were in the past.
I believe You can do magnificent
and miraculous things in response
to my prayers today as well. Amen.

Lord, You are the one true God
and we praise You! Thank You
for going to such great length
to demonstrate Your power and
to bring people back to You.
Those great lengths led Your Son to
the cross because of Your love for
those who are blind to Your glory.
Show Yourself powerful and show
that You are the God who acts on
Your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, Your Word in James 5:16 says
the earnest prayer of a righteous
person has great power and
produces wonderful results.
Grant us the faith & persistency of Elijah: that when he prayed earnestly
that no rain would fall, none fell for
3 & half years! Then when he prayed
again, the sky sent down rain.
Lord, fill our hearts with Your desires
so that when we pray out of the overflow of our heart, we are praying
Your will and heart desires. Amen.

Trust God for His Provision (Jul 1)

Backgrounder to 1 Kings 15-19:
From 1 Kings 15 onwards show
the two nations of Israel & Judah
in spiritual decline; taking time
occasionally to highlight a prophet
(such as Elijah) or a king (like Ahab)
who contributes significantly to the
spirituality of one of the nations.

Lord, we Trust Your Provision:
And Elijah…said to Ahab: As the Lord
God of Israel lives, before whom
I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word.
Then the Lord came to Elijah
saying: Hide by the Brook, which
flow into the Jordan. You shall drink
from the brook & I’ve commanded
the ravens to feed you there…
Widow did as Elijah said. And she,
her son & Elijah continued to eat
from her supply of flour and oil
for many days. For no matter how
much they used, there was always
enough left in the containers,
just as the Lord had promised
through Elijah (1 Kgs 17:1-4, 15-16)

Lord, I know You are God of miracles
and nothing is impossible for those
who pray in the power of Your Spirit.
Help me to pray boldly and believe
for miracles in answer to my prayers.
Teach me how to not pray too small.
For I don’t want my prayers to stop
short of what You God want to see
happen in my life and in the lives
of those for whom I pray. Amen.

Father God, remind us of Your
amazing provision for Elijah and
the widow because they followed
Your way instead of their own.
Grateful for Your constant care
& for Your plan in uncertain times.
But it is so easy to panic and do
what seems most reasonable
rather than to trust You & follow
Your pleading in those times.
Remind us Your deeds and assures
us that Your way is best. Amen.

Lord, You bless those whose hearts are in tune with You and trust You.
Teach us live in abundance of
Your promise instead of in the
evaluation of our circumstances.
Grant us the grace to turn to You
in every adversity, to trust You
when the future looks uncertain.
Remind us that You are Able and
Good and that You are Jehovah
Jireh who Provides our needs. Amen