Month: July 2023

God Has Message For You

While Jeremiah is preaching about
the judgment of God on Judah,
his contemporary Ezekiel is
in Babylon interpreting God’s
judgment to those Jews already
in captivity. Ezekiel’s preaching
also contains large doses of hope.
The 70 year exile will teach
God’s people “that I am the Lord”,
thus preparing them for restoration.

Lord, You Speak thru Your Word:
The voice said to (Ezekiel): Eat what
I am giving you – eat this scroll!
Then go and give its message to
the people… So I opened my mouth..
And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet
as honey in my mouth (Ezek 3:1-3)
Then He added: Let all My words
sink deep into your own heart first.
Listen to them carefully for yourself.
Then go to your people in exile
and say to them: This is what the
Sovereign LORD says (Ezek 3:10-11)
When I give u a message, I’ll loosen
your tongue and let you speak: Then
you will say to them: This is what the
Sovereign Lord says! (v27). Amen.

Lord, following Your voice is hard
for Your Words are difficult to obey.
Put Your truth in me, and let me
consume Your message in my
mouth so that it tasted like honey.
Help me Lord embody Your voice
and Your message in my being
and in my life. And let me speak
to others the words that comes
straight from Your heart. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the invitation
to embody Your Word of truth.
For I want to understand You Lord,
Your thoughts and feelings as
well as Your work and Your ways.
I want to do it because I love You
and because I want to experience
the benefits of Your love for me.
And I want to become one with You,
in principle & in experience. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the life message
You’ve given & the target audience.
Sovereign Lord, I ask for Your will
to be indeed my passion and desire.
And that include whom You want me
to serve & what You want me to say. 
May revelation of these specifics
make me more passionate about
Your assignment for me; and Lord
do make the pathway straight. Amen

God Promises Good Plans

Jeremiah’s messages of judgment
arouse opposition in the palace.
During Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah
is threatened with a death sentence.
While Zedekiah rules, Jeremiah don
a wooden yoke to portray Jerusalem
surrendering to Babylon. In midst of
turmoil, Jeremiah sends the exiles
in Babylon an encouraging letter;
urging them to settle down for
an extended period of captivity.

Lord, You have Good Plans For Us:
Thus says the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel, to all who were
carried away captive, whom I have
caused to be carried away from
Jerusalem to Babylon (Jer 29:4).
After 70 years are completed at
Babylon, I will visit you & perform
My Good Word toward you and
cause you to return to this place.
For I know the Plans I have
for you, declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future (Jer 29:10-11).
Then you Will Call upon me and
come and Pray to me, and I will
listen to you. And you Will Seek Me
and Find Me, when you Search
for Me with all your heart. I will
be found by you, says the Lord,
and I will bring you back from
your captivity (Jer 29:12-14).

Lord, thank You for planning
a future and a hope for my life.
Because of Your Power and Your
Faithfulness, I know that nothing
in my life is outside Your Control.
Help me to willingly submit to Your
will for my future, draw me to look
for You and to pray wholeheartedly.
And grant my hope be grounded
in Your Unchanging character. Amen

Lord, thank You that Your plans
for me are for good to prosper me
and give me a Future and a Hope.
Lord, I realise that Your good plan
requires my participative prayer.
I seek You about my future and ask
You to help me to hear Your voice
leading me each step of the way.
Help me Obey You and not do any
thing that hinders Your plan. Amen.

Lord, noted that despite the depth
of Judah’s faithlessness, so great
is Your love that You Promised
to bring Your people home again.
Thank You Lord for Your Plans,
though I may not fully understand.
Thank You for the promise to listen
when I pray. Help me persevere
in seeking You; for I will find You &
You’ll fulfil Your plan for me. Amen.

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of book of Jeremiah
is to urge God’s people to turn
from their sins and back to God.
On Monday, we learn from Jer 6
that God Shows the Good Way.
On Tuesday, we learn from Jer 17
that God Blesses & Heals You.
On Wed, we learn from Jer 29
that God Promises Good Plans.
On Thursday we learn from Jer 32
that God Is Bigger than Problems.
On Friday, we learn from Jer 33
that God Is Near & Grant Access.
On Sat, we learn from Lam 3/5
that God’s Faithfulness Is Great.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You are faithful, near to us
and bigger than our problems;
for You bless & heal us, promise
good plans & show the good way;
for You truly keep Your promises;
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God’s Faithfulness Is Great

God’s warning had come thru the
prophet Jeremiah, but the people
of Judah refused to listen.In 586BC
the Babylonian army attacked,
the people were carried into exile
and Jerusalem lay ruined & empty.
For days Jeremiah lamented over
the city and its future. As he cries
out in the darkness of destruction,
Jeremiah is given a spark of hope.
God promises forgiveness & grace;
the period of judgment is limited
and in His mercy God will restore
the city and return the captives.

Lord, we claim Your Faithfulness:
Through the Lord’s mercies
we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Yr Faithfulness (L3:22-23)
Therefore I hope in Him!
The Lord is good to those who
Wait for Him, and seek Him.
It is good that one should hope
and Wait Quietly for the salvation
from the Lord (Lam 3:24-26).
You Remain the Same forever!
Turn us back to You and we will
be restored (Lam 5:19-21). Amen.

Lord, thank You for being Faithful.
Your Word says You keep all Your
promises and none of them will fail.
In Your mercy and tender kindness,
reveal Your faithfulness to me and
show me that there is hope in You.
Help me to triumph over adversities
by focusing on Your Faithfulness.
Help me to exhibit faithfulness
in my relationships as well as in
my interactions with others. Amen.

Lord, quieten my heart and mind
so that I am willing to Wait on You;
not with grumbling but with hope
and assurance that You will do
everything in Your perfect timing.
Grant me patience, and help me to
look for Yr answers to my requests.
And increase my faith that You
are working, even when I must
Wait for Your answer. Amen.

Lord, in the midst of severe trial,
we may wonder where are You.
But we praise and exult You
that You are Still on Your throne.
And in an ever-changing world,
it’s comforting to remember
that You God Does Not Change,
for You Remain the Same forever.
Unchanging God, we praise You for
Your faithfulness and unfailing love.
You’re working out Your purposes &
we hope in You for restoration. Amen

God Is Near & Grant Access

God pledges to reestablish Judah
after it has been purified by the
discipline of exile. As a sign of His
promise, He orders Jeremiah to
buy a field that would soon belong
to the conquering Babylonians.
That land would one day become
part of the restored nation to be
ruled by the Righteous Branch,
David’s Messianic descendant.

Lord, we want to Hear from You:
The word of the Lord came to
Jeremiah while he was still shut
up in the court of the prison saying:
Thus says the Lord: the Lord who
made the earth and established it…
Call to Me, and I will answer you,
and show you great & mighty things
which you do not know (Jer 33:1-3)
Hear all the good that I do
to them… Praise the LORD
of hosts, for the Lord is good,
for His mercy endures forever(v9-11)
Behold the days are coming, says
the Lord, that I will perform that good things which I’ve promised…
In those days… I will cause to grow…
a Branch of righteousness…
In those days Judah will be saved
& Jerusalem will dwell safely(v14-15)

Lord, I want to hear from You,
and I want to hear from You with
a reasonable level of certainty.
I am asking You to speak in a way
that I can understand You clearly.
I know I may make mistakes and
mishear You Lord sometimes but
I trust You to gently correct me.
I realise to hear You consistently
will require faith and patience. So,
Help me ask with expectation and
wait patiently for Your voice. Amen.

Lord, we may find it challenging
to listen to those we interact with.
But we can consult You God and
hear Your voice because You are
not a cruel task master and want
to share great and mighty things.
Lord, I confess not being a good
listener and may not patiently
wait to hear what You have to say.
Teach me to hear Your voice & grant
me the faith to trust and obey. Amen

Lord, we love to hear secret truths
that the world doesn’t know about.
It may be some verse in the Bible
which You enable us to understand
in a way we have never grasped.
Or it may be seeing deep into
a friend’s heart; or revelation over
the reason things happen to us.
Enable me Lord with such insights
which enhance understanding of
You & draw me closer to You, Amen.

God Bigger Than Our Problems

God pledges to reestablish the
nation after it has been purified
by the discipline of exile. As a sign
of His promise, He orders Jeremiah
to buy a field that wld soon belong
to the conquering Babylonians.
That land would one day become
part of the restored nation to be
ruled by the Righteous Branch,
David’s Messianic descendant.

Lord, You are Almighty & Good:
I prayed… saying: Ah Lord God!
Behold You have made the heavens
& the earth by Your great power and
outstretched arm. There is nothing
too hard for You (Jer 32:16-17).
Then the word of the Lord came
to Jeremiah saying: Behold, I’m the
Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there
anything too hard for Me (v26-27).
They will be My people and I will
be their God. And I will give them
one heart and one purpose: to
worship me forever… I will never
stop doing good for them (v38-40).

Lord, thank You that nothing
in my life is beyond Your reach.
Nothing is too large or difficult
for Your powerful hand at all.
Help me Lord to realize that
You display Your power best in
impossible situations. Give me
greater understanding of who
You are so that my trust in You
will grow and be complete. Amen.

Lord, when my faith is shaky,
remind me of Your Almighty power.
Give me a fresh glimpse of who
You really are: You made heavens
and the earth and You made us.
Increase my faith O Lord, for
Nothing is impossible with You.
Supply the confidence I need to
believe in this truth especially when
facing hopeless situation. Amen.

Lord, You are truly great, good
and always concern of our welfare.
And I purpose to always worship
You and move people towards You.
When things are going well in my
life, remind me not to accept praise
without giving You the glory or
at least point people toward You.
And when time is hard, remind me
that You God will make everything
good & beautiful in Your time. Amen.

God Promises Good Plans (July 26)

Jeremiah’s messages of judgment
arouse opposition in the palace.
During Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah
is threatened with a death sentence.
While Zedekiah rules, Jeremiah don
a wooden yoke to portray Jerusalem
surrendering to Babylon. In midst of
turmoil, Jeremiah sends the exiles
in Babylon an encouraging letter;
urging them to settle down for
an extended period of captivity.

Lord, You have Good Plans For Us:
Thus says the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel, to all who were
carried away captive, whom I have
caused to be carried away from
Jerusalem to Babylon (Jer 29:4).
After 70 years are completed at
Babylon, I will visit you & perform
My Good Word toward you and
cause you to return to this place.
For I know the Plans I have
for you, declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future (Jer 29:10-11).
Then you Will Call upon me and
come and Pray to me, and I will
listen to you. And you Will Seek Me
and Find Me, when you Search
for Me with all your heart. I will
be found by you, says the Lord,
and I will bring you back from
your captivity (Jer 29:12-14).

Lord, thank You for planning
a future and a hope for my life.
Because of Your Power and Your
Faithfulness, I know that nothing
in my life is outside Your Control.
Help me to willingly submit to Your
will for my future, draw me to look
for You and to pray wholeheartedly.
And grant my hope be grounded
in Your Unchanging character. Amen

Lord, thank You that Your plans
for me are for good to prosper me
and give me a Future and a Hope.
Lord, I realise that Your good plan
requires my participative prayer.
I seek You about my future and ask
You to help me to hear Your voice
leading me each step of the way.
Help me Obey You and not do any
thing that hinders Your plan. Amen.

Lord, noted that despite the depth
of Judah’s faithlessness, so great
is Your love that You Promised
to bring Your people home again.
Thank You Lord for Your Plans,
though I may not fully understand.
Thank You for the promise to listen
when I pray. Help me persevere
in seeking You; for I will find You &
You’ll fulfil Your plan for me. Amen.

God Blesses & Heals You

Jeremiah becomes object lesson
for what’s soon to befall Judah.
The prophet is commanded to
remain celibate and avoids feast
days; a reminder to his countrymen
that they will soon experience
involuntarily what Jeremiah is
called to experience voluntarily.
For loss of comfort and joy await
God’s rebellious people. But then
God’s discipline is still redemptive.

Lord, we will Trust & Cling to You:
Cursed is the man who trusts
in man and makes flesh his
strength, whose heart departs
from the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5).
Blessed is the one who Trusts in the
Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
They will be like a tree planted
by the water that sends out its
roots by the stream. It does not
fear when heat comes; its leaves
are always green. It has no worries
in a year of drought and never
fails to Bear Fruit (Jer 17:7-8).
Heal me O Lord & I will be Healed,
Save me and I shall be saved,
for You are the one I praise…
(for) You are my hope in
the day of doom (v14, 17). Amen

Lord, I put my complete Trust in You
for You are my hope & confidence.
Thank You for Your promise
to bring forth fruit in my life.
And make my soul prosperous
even during the long dry spells.
Help me Lord not to turn from You;
instead lead me to go deep into You
as I feed in Yr Word each day. Amen

Lord, You are good & I trust in You
for You are my hope & confidence.
Draw me ever closer to You and
give me a passion to seek You.
Help me to Be Fruitful even during
life’s dry season and into old age.
Help me to put my roots deep
into You and Your Word that I be
able to endure hard times and wait
for Your sure deliverance. Amen.

Lord, really grateful that You came
as our Healer besides our Saviour.
In Your mercy, I ask for Your healing
touch upon my friends who need it,
especially those with severe illness.
Having experienced Your healing
a few times before, I know when
You heal, we can be healed fully.
At the same time, grant us the
discipline to take proper care
of our physical body. Amen.

God Shows Us The Good Way

Jeremiah 4-6 paints a word picture
of the coming Babylonian invasion.
You can almost hear the hoofbeats
of the horses, the war cries of the
invading Chaldeans, the screams
of anguish from God’s people
as they experience the deadly
consequences of their rebellion.
But the cure is no worse than the
disease, for Judah has not even
forgotten how to blush in her zeal
to pursue every kind of loathsome
activity and proud indulgence.

Lord, we’ll Follow the Good Path:
To whom shall I give warning?
Behold the word of the Lord is
a reproach to them; they have
no delight in it. So I am full of
the fury of the Lord (Jer 6:10-11).
This is what the Lord says:
Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the Ancient Paths,
ask where the Good Way is,
Walk in it, and you will Find
Rest for your souls (Jer 6:16).
Also I set watchmen over you saying:
Listen to the sound of the trumpet!
But they said: We will not listen…
(So), I’m bringing disaster on
this people because they have
not heeded My words nor My law
but rejected it (Jer 6:17-19).

Lord, let us experience Your
heartbeat regarding the issues
that matter greatly to You.
Fill us Lord with Your Feelings,
regardless of what they are.
Help us love what You love, hate
what You hate, rejoice over Yr joys,
and be angry at what angers You.
Shape our heart Lord and let
our prayers and actions flow from
what You have put within us. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Your Word
and I ask You to show me clearly
Your ancient yet Proven Good Way.
Forgive me for periodically foolishly
thinking that I can ignore Your
truth and find blessing & peace.
There is no true rest for my soul
unless and until I submit to Your
Will and Your Plan for my life.
Grant me Your grace and the
courage to do just that. Amen.

Lord, we come before You and
confess the sins of the nations.
Even though there are people
who believe in You, far too many
have refused to walk in Your way.
As Christians, we stand in the gap
and pray for many more to join us
in walking according to Your way
so that disaster be averted. Amen.

God’s Promises Will Be Fulfilled

Backgrounder on Isaiah 52-57:
Nowhere in the OT will you see
a clearer picture of the horrible
price of your redemption than in
these six chapters. Many verses
show the anquish our Savior,
as suffering servant, endured
in paying the awful price of sin…
His visage was marred more than
any man (52:14), He was bruised…
and with his stripes we are healed
(53:5); The LORD laid on him
the iniquity of us all (53:6).

Lord, Your Ways Be Accomplished:
Seek the Lord while He may be
found, Call on Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous… his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord… For He
will abundantly pardon (Isa 55:6-7)
My thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways My ways… For as
the heaven higher than the earth so
are My Ways Higher than your ways,
& My thots than your thots (v8-9).
My Word that goes out from My
mouth: it will not return to me
empty but Will Accomplish
what I desire and achieve
the purpose for which I sent it.
For you shall go out with joy…
And all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands (v11-12).

Lord, Your Word simply tells me
to seek and to call, and that’s it.
But I have a hard time believing
the simplicity of it all. Captivate
me Lord each time I come seeking
You with the sound of Your voice.
And in Your mercy, please reward
my seeking and calling quickly and
decisively enough to establish this
posture as a pattern in my life. Amen

Lord, Your plan may seems crazy,
for You sometimes use foolish things
to accomplish Your purposes. For
Your thoughts are not our thoughts,
neither are our ways Your ways.
When things don’t make sense,
prompt us to ask You for wisdom
to discern what You are doing.
For I will be a fool if I didn’t take You
at Your Word and Trust You. Amen.

Lord, I praise You that Your words
do not come back empty, that
they do the work You sent them
to do & accomplish Your purpose.
Grant me to be hungry enough
to Feed on Your Word each day.
Grant me to Value Your Word more
than silver, gold or anything that this
world offers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.