Category: 2019 Prayers

God Keeps His Promises (Aug 16)

Habakkuk prophesies in Judah
before its overthrow by Babylonia.
Honestly concerned with how God
could chasten Judah by means of
a nation even more sinful than itself,
Habakkuk deals with perplexing
questions: Why is a just God silent?
Why do pleas of the faithful seem
to go unheard? The reply comes in
the statement of a timeless principle
of God’s sovereignty: God will deal
with the wicked in His way and
in His time. Meanwhile righteous
people must continue to trust God.

Lord, we Trust by Waiting on You:
I will stand my watch & set myself
on the watch tower. And watch
to see what He will say to me…
Then the Lord answered me:
The vision is yet for an appointed
time; but at the end it will speak,
and it will not lie. Though it tarries,
Wait for it; because it will surely
come, it will not tarry. Behold the
proud… is not upright; but the just
shall live by his Faith (Hab 2:1-4).
For the earth will be filled with the
knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea (v14).
Though the fig trees does not bud,
there are no grapes on the vines
and the olive crop fails; and though
the fields yield no food… yet I will
rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful
in God my Savior. The Sovereign
Lord is my strength (Hab 3:17-19).

Lord, we praise You for Your
lovingkindness & Yr faithfulness.
We thank You Lord for recording
Your Word for us so that through
endurance, the encouragement
of scriptures and of Your Spirit,
we might have confident hope.
Thank You that Your rhema word
will surely come to pass and
grant us the strength to wait
upon You. In Jesus’ mighty name.

Lord, we note that to trust God
fully means to trust Him even
when we do not understand
why events occur as they do.
Help us Lord to live by Faith by
Waiting upon You and trust that You
God will direct all things according
to Your purpose, Yr way & Yr time.
For the world will see Your glory;
in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Merciful and faithful Lord, I pray
especially over people right now
who are experiencing losses,
who are experiencing suffering,
who are undergoing severe trial,
who are facing health challenge.
God, I pray be able to rejoice in You;
God, I pray for satisfaction in You;
God, I pray for strength from You,
in tough circumstances. Amen.

God Shows Unfailing Love

Micah describes God’s people on
trial. The charges against Israel:
halfhearted worship, persistent
rebellion, hypocrisy, greed & idolatry
The verdict can only be guilty; and
the sentence: a generation of exile
in Babylon. Yet the message of
Micah is not complete until he
preached the richness of God’s
forgiveness and grace. Micah knows
that God’s discipline only comes
within the context of His ever-
lasting love. The aftermath of His
wrath brings mercy & forgiveness.

Lord, we delight in Yr Unfailing Love:
I will look to the LORD; I will wait
for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me (Micah 7:7).
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord
Will Be My Light. Because I have
sinned against Him, I will bear
the Lord’s wrath, until He pleads
my case and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out Into the Light;
I’ll see His righteousness (v8-9).
Where is another God like You…
You will not stay angry with
Your people forever, because You
delight in showing Unfailing Love.
Once again You will hv compassion
on us. You’ll trample pour sins under
Your feet and Throw Them into the
depths of the Ocean (v18-19) Amen

Lord, thank You that even if I were
to fall off the path You have for me
to walk, You will still be there to
Lift Me Up when I repent of sins.
And so I will patiently wait upon You
for You are the God of my salvation.
Thank You Lord that You not only
forgive but You will also Restore.
I praise You as the light of my life
and the keeper of my heart. Amen.

Lord, when we sin severely,
we have to expect discipline.
Help us be Patient for You promise
to be our light in the darkness;
and You have not given up on us.
In fact You have promised that
we will see Your righteousness.
Gracious Lord bring me out of
the darkness and into Your light.
Show me also Your righteousness
and give me the victory. Amen.

Lord, grateful for Your tender
mercies; for You throw away sins
into the depths of the ocean.
How gracious of You Lord to
utterly hide them from Your sight.
Though men may bring up our past
sins over & over again to torment us,
You God doesn’t delight to do that;
but delight to show Unfailing Love.
We purpose not to take sin lightly;
for it costs Jesus’ blood & life. Amen

God Is Gracious & Compassionate

God calls Jonah to warn Assyrian
city of Nineveh of impending
destruction. However the brutal
Assyrians are Israel’s bitter enemies
and Jonah fears & despises them.
Instead of heading to Nineveh
Jonah sets sail in the opposite
direction. A storm ensues, Jonah
is tossed overboard and swallowed
by a great fish. After three days,
the fish deposits Jonah on dry land.
Jonah then goes to Nineveh and
preaches as God had instructed.
When the people repent, Jonah’s
resentment grows until God must
teach him a lesson in compassion.

Lord, we will Deliver Your Message:
The Lord spoke to Jonah a 2nd time.
Go to the great city of Nineveh and
deliver the message of judgment…
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s
comd. He shouted to the crowds:
Forty days from now Nineveh
will be destroyed! The people of
Nineveh believed God’s message
and from the greatest to the least,
they decided to go without food and
wear sackcloth in sorrow (Jon 3:1-5)
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly
and he became angry. So he prayed.
I know that You are a gracious
and merciful God, slow to anger
and abundant in lovingkindness…
It is better for me to die (Jon 4:1-3).
Then God said: Is it right for you
to be angry because the plant died?
You feel sorry about the plant,
though you did nothing to put it
there… But Nineveh has more than
120,000 people living in spiritual
darkness…Shouldn’t I feel sorry
for such a great city? (v9-11).

Lord, we learn from passage that
Jonah was to preach only what
You told him: a message of doom.
We realise those who bring God’s
Word to others should not let
fear of people dictate their words.
For we are called to follow the
Spirit’s leading and share God’s
message and His truth, even
though it may be unpopular. Amen.

Lord, there are people around who
need to hear Your message of hope;
people whom I might not even
notice, but whom You love deeply.
Reveal them to me so that I can
pray for them and perhaps speak
an encouraging word to them.
Prepare their hearts to receive
word from You through me. Amen.

Dear Lord, we acknowledge Your
Sovereignty & You are In Control.
Help us not run from doing Your
purpose but Deliver Your Message.
Help us Lord to Be Compassionate,
to those who are different from us.
Help us not be inward looking but
be Your witnesses wherever we are.
Help us to share the Good News for
people truly Need the Lord. Amen.

God Restores Past Loses

Addressing hearts that have grown
cold to the things of God, Joel
confronts the people of Judah.
He reminds them of the destruction
brought by a plague of locusts and
warns of the castastrophe to come.
Unless the nation repents, it will be
destroyed by an army fr the north.
The only hope of escape is for
the people to repent. If they do,
then God will divert judgment and
will deliver unparalleled blessing
and the gift of peace to Zion!

Lord, You Restore Past Loses:
Now therefore, says the Lord,
Turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping…
So rend your heart and…
return to the Lord your God,
for He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of the great
kindness and He relents
from doing harm (Joel 2:12-13).
I Will Repay you for the years
the locusts have eaten… my
great army that I sent among you.
You shall eat in plenty and be
satisfied, and praise the name
of the Lord your God, who has
dealt wondrously with you…
Then you shall know that…
I am the Lord your God and there
is no other. And My people shall
never be put to shame (v25-27).
It shall come to pass afterward
that they will pour out My Spirit
on all flesh… Whoever Calls
on the name of the Lord Shall
Be Saved (Joel 2:28-32). Amen.

Lord, thank You that it’s never
too late to turn to You and see
Restoration happens in our life.
Even though there has been time
wasted when we didn’t live fully for
You, pray that You Will Redeem the
time and help us to make up for it.
Restore Lord everything that has
been lost, wasted or ruined so that
we can testify of Your glory. Amen.

Lord, there’s times when we ignore
the still small voice & make mistake.
Though discipline may come our
way but You promise to give back
the years the locusts had eaten.
Grateful that You Lord not only
forgive but Your mercy is great.
Help us learn from our mistakes
and grow even closer to You Lord.
And thank You that You will redeem
our past and guide our future. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Your Word
that everyone who calls
on Your name Will Be Saved.
Grateful for the promise to hear
and answer my cries for help.
Your rescue of me may not end
up looking like what I imagine
but You do promise to deliver.
Grant me the faith to believe this
promise with all my heart. Amen.

God Is Loving & Faithful

Backgrounder on Hosea 1-3:
To the nation of Israel, a land
steeped in idolatry, God sends
the prophet Hosea. Just as God
foretold, Gomer deserts her
husband for other lovers-a graphic
depiction of Israel’s faithlessness
in response to God’s loyal love.
When Gomer sinks to the level
of a slave, Hosea is commanded
to buy her back, for she is still
his wife. In the same way the God
of Israel pledges His continuing
love for His people, even though
their spiritual adultery will result
in captivity and enslavement.

Lord, You are Loving & Faithful:
I will Fence her in with thornbushes.
I will block the road to make her
lose her way. When she runs
after her lovers, she won’t be
able to catch up with them….
Then she will say: I will Return to
my first husband for then it was
better for me than now (Hos 2:6-7)
I Will Win her back once again…
I will… speak tenderly to her there…
I will make you my wife forever…
I Will Be Faithful to you and
make you mine (H2:14, 19-20).
The Lord said to me (Hosea):
Go, show your love to your wife
again, though she is loved by
another and is an adulteress.
Love her as the Lord loves
the Israelites, though they turn
to other gods (Hosea 3:1).

Lord, build a Hedge of thorns to
separate friends and loved ones
from influence not ordained by You.
I pray that those who are a bad
influence will lose interest,
and that my loved one would
lose interest in them as well.
May that Hedge of thorns defend
against any contact with those
who are out of Your will. Amen.

Lord, You are holy and want us to
walk straight and narrow paths.
For loved ones who don’t have
the wisdom to see destructive
path or the discipline to keep
away from it, won’t You put
a hedge of thorns around us.
And teach me to pray with faith
for nothing is impossible to You.
Help me to wait trusting You and
expect for the breakthrough. Amen.

Lord, Thank You for Your nature
to love Your people relentlessly.
And though You hate sin, You love
us & is single-minded Pursing us.
So, even when I feel unworthy,
I want to Pursue You & be with You.
I know Lord that any insecurity
in our relationship is unfounded.
And I accept the gift of restored
relationship with open arms. Amen

God Reveals Deep Things

The first 3 chapters of the book
describe the spiritual integrity
of Daniel and his three friends.
Selected for government service,
they resist the pressure to conform
to their pagan environment and
instead take a stand for God.
Whether in diet, truthfulness or
spiritual discipline, the four young
men live out their convictions.

Lord, grant us Your Revelation:
During the Night the mystery
was revealed to Daniel in a vision.
Then Daniel said: Praise be the
name of God… For wisdom and
might are His (Daniel 2:19-20).
He Reveals deep and mysterious
things and knows what lies Hidden
in darkness… I thank and praise You
for You have given me Wisdom and
strength. You have told me what
we Asked of You and Revealed to us
what the king demanded (v22-23).
The king answered Daniel and said:
Truly your God is the God of gods,
the Lord of kings and a Revealer
of secrets, since you could reveal
this secret. Then the king promoted
Daniel… gave him many great gifts;
and he made him ruler over the
whole province of Babylon (v47-48).

Lord, it seems that in the middle of
the night problems appear larger.
At those times I am reminded that
You never sleep and I can come
to You and cling to Your presence.
I pray that at those times You will
give me the treasures of darkness,
as You have spoken in Your Word.
I pray You will fill my darkness with
Your light and give me peace. Amen.

Lord, I praise Your mighty name
for You are the God who has
all wisdom and power, the One
who guides even world events.
You give wisdom to the wise
and You know what is hidden
in darkness and all mysteries.
Grant me O Lord Your wisdom
and strength to handle the tricky
issues that come my way. Amen.

Lord, we purpose not to lean on
our own understanding; but instead
to look to You the All Knowing One
for understanding and wisdom.
There are things we can’t know by
seeing or hearing are known by God
& You’re willing to reveal them to us.
For Your Spirit searches all things &
shows secrets to those who love U.
Reveal to us O Lord those things
which help us be effective. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the prophetic
book of Daniel is to show how
God is in control of the earth,
the destiny of nations as well
as the care of His people. Also,
Daniel’s dreams and interpretations
of others’ dreams convince Jew
and Gentile alike that wisdom
and power belong to God alone.

On Mon, we learn from Daniel 2
that God Reveals Deep Things.
On Tues, we learn from Daniel 3
to Praise The Most High God.
On Wed, we learn from Daniel 4
that God Rules & Fulfils Dreams.
On Thurs, we learn from Daniel 7
to Praise God the Ancient of Days.
On Friday, we learn from Daniel 9
that God Is Holy and Merciful.
On Sat, we learn from Dan 10-12
that Almighty God Is In Control.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are Worthy of our Thanks
as You God Reveals Deep Things
as well as Rules & Fulfils Dreams;
For You are worthy of our Praise
as You are The Most High God
as well as The Ancient of Days;
For You are Holy and Merciful
as well as in Control of things.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Almighty God who is In Control

Backgrounder: Whilst the first half
of Daniel’s book centres around
the prophet’s personal adventures;
the second half focuses on his
prophetic visions. God’s people
now find themselves under Gentile
domination. But even world powers
do not rise or fall without the
consent of almighty God. In a
remarkable collection of prophetic
glimpses, Daniel sets forth both
the near and distant future of God’s
chosen people – a future filled with
purifying judgment and blessing.

Lord, we’ll Seek, Persevere & Share:
Do not be afraid Daniel. Since
the day you set your mind to gain
understanding and to humble
yourself before your God,
your words were heard… Now I
have come to make you understand
what will happen to your people
in the latter days (Daniel 10:12-14).
Those who do wickedly against
the covenant he shall corrupt
with flattery; but the people who
know their God shall Be Strong,
and carry out great exploits…
In this way, they will be refined and
cleansed and made pure until the
time of the end (Daniel 11:32-35).
Those who sleep in the earth shall
awake; some to everlasting life,
some to everlasting contempt
Those who are wise shall shine…
and those who turn many to
righteousness (be) like the stars
forever and ever (Dan 12:2-3).

Lord, help me to Seek Patiently
for the answers to my prayers.
Increase my faith to know that
when I pray, You hear the cries
of my heart and will answer in
Your perfect timing and Your
perfect way. Help me to continue
to pray and not give up, no matter
how long it takes or how many
obstacles the enemy throws in
my path along the way. Amen.

Lord, we recognise temptations
are not unique, everyone struggles.
Help me to know You so well that
I will say a Firm No to temptation.
Help me use opportunities during
difficult times to share Your Word
for it will interest those who
normally don’t bother with it.
Help me to recognise trials as
opportunities to strengthen faith.
For if we remain steadfast, we
will grow closer to You God. Amen.

Dear Lord, we note that Daniel’s
visions gave the captives added
Confidence that You God is In
Control of history. Lord, help us
Not give in to the pressures of
challenges and temptations of
the sinful way of life around us.
Lord, we appeal to Your Mercy,
for we will Wait for the Answer;
we’ll Persevere & Be Refined;
and help us share the gospel. Amen

God of Holiness & Mercy

God’s people, a major force among
the Gentiles since days of Joshua,
now find themselves under Gentile
domination. But even world powers
don’t rise or fall without the consent
of almighty God. In a remarkable
collection of prophetic glimpses,
Daniel sets forth both the near
and distant future of God’s
chosen people; a future filled with
purifying judgment and blessing.

Holy Lord, we Seek Your Mercy:
I prayed to the Lord my God,
and made confession and said:
O Lord, great and awesome God,
who keeps His covenant & mercy…
We have Sinned & done wrong.
We have rebelled against You
and scorned Your commands…
We have refused to listen to
Your… prophets (Daniel 9:4-6).
Now, our God, hear the prayers and
petitions of Your servant… We do
not make requests of You because
we are righteous, but because
of Your Great Mercy (v17-18).
While I was speaking in prayer…
Gabriel talked with me and said:
O Daniel, I have now come forth
to give you skill to understand…
Seventy weeks are determined
for your people and for your
holy city… to make an end of sins
to make reconciliation for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness
and to anoint the Most Holy(v21-24)

Lord, Daniel was an exceptional man
but even him had offended You God.
So in Daniel’s prayers, he took
responsibility for the sins that
he and his people had committed.
Help us Lord to learn from Daniel
not deny our faults but admit them.
Help us to be honest with You God,
confess our sins; so that we can
feel clean, relieved and prepared
to serve You forgiven. Amen.

Lord, I come to You not because
I am worthy but because You are.
You are full of mercy; and I need
Your mercy to be extended to me.
I need help to overcome certain
challenging situation in my life.
And I thank You Lord that Your help
isn’t dependent on my good works;
but upon Your goodness, love
and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, let Your holiness manifest
itself in us; and may it transform
our thoughts, speech and actions.
You have purchased us our purity
at such a great cost; & we don’t
want it to be wasted in our lives.
Help us honour You in all we do
& help us focus on Your holiness.
And empower us to live a life
that is set apart to You Lord.
In Jesus’ gracious name, Amen.

Praise God: The Ancient of Days

Backgrounder to Daniel 7-12:
The first half of Daniel’s book
centers around the prophet’s
personal adventures; the 2nd half
focuses on his prophetic visions.
God’s people, a major political
and military force among the
Gentiles since the days of Joshua,
now find themselves under
Gentile domination. But even world
powers do not rise or fall without
the consent of almighty God.
In a remarkable collection of
prophetic glimpses, Daniel sets
forth both the near and distant
future of God’s chosen people –
a future filled with purifying
judgment and blessing.

Lord, we worship as You Reign:
Daniel had a dream and visions…
while on his bed. Then he wrote
down the dream, telling the main
facts. Daniel spoke saying: I saw…
the four winds of heaven were
stirring up the Great Sea…
And four great beasts came up
from the sea (Daniel 7:1-3).
I watched as thrones were put in
place and the Ancient One sat down
to judge. His clothing was as white
as snow, his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
and a river of fire was flowing
from His presence (v9-10).
O Son of Man, You will come with
clouds of heaven. In the presence
of the Ancient of Days, You will be
given dominion and… a kingdom,
so that people of every nation…
will worship You (Dan 7:13-14).

Lord Jesus, we Praise You for taking
on human form to accomplish light,
life and liberation. All people will
eventually worship You someday.
We worship You Lord today for
You are our health and salvation.
And we choose to worship You
for You keep Your promises of
lovingkindness. In Jesus’ name.

O Heavenly Father who has always
cared, provided and protected Your
children in all the ages, to You in
reverent awe our hearts are bowed.
O Lord Jesus, our Saviour and
Prince of Peace; to You we owe
with gratitude for blessed assurance
and the peace that still prevails.
O Holy Spirit, our Comforter and
Enabler, to You we owe quickening
power that gives peace and
increase in all that we do. Amen.

Ancient of Days, who sittest
throned in glory,
To Thee all knees are bent,
all voices prayed;
Thy love has blessed the wide
world’s wondrous story
With light and life since
Eden’s dawning day.
O Triune God, with heart
and voice adoring,
Praise we the goodness
that doth crown our days;
Pray we that Thou will
hear us still imploring
Thy love and favour,
kept to us always. Amen.