Category: 2021 Prayers

The Holy God Elohim Kedoshim

After being commended for their
faithful service in conquering the
land of Canaan, the warriors of the
tribes east of Jordan are sent home.
They recognised the Jordan River
which forms a natural barrier may
become a spiritual barrier as well.
To prevent this, a memorial altar
is built on the riverbank – an act
misunderstood by the tribes west
of Jordan. Civil war nearly breaks
out before the real motives behind
the altar are revealed. The book
closes with Joshua’s farewell
address in which he gives the
people an ultimatum: Choose you
this day whom you will serve.

Hallowed be Elohim Kedoshim:
Choose for yourself this day whom
you will serve, whether the gods
which your fathers served that
were on other side of the River,
or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell. But
as for me and my house we will
serve the Lord… (Joshua 24:15).
Joshua said to the people: He is
a Holy God (Elohim Kedoshim);
he is a jealous God. He will not
forgive your rebellion and your sins;
if you forsake the Lord and serve
foreign gods. He will turn and bring
disaster on you and make an end of
you, after He has been good to you.
But the people said to Joshua: No!
We will serve the Lord (Jos 24:19-21)

Lord Elohim Kedoshim, You dwell
in high and holy place, yet You also
dwell with those who are contrite
and of a humble heart. We thank
You, the Holy One, that You made
a way through Jesus Christ to
allow us into Your presence. And
grateful though You are holy, You
desire our heart & want to share
intimate relationship with us. Amen.

Lord Elohim Kedosim, I know You
want me to be holy as You are holy.
But I have fallen short in the past,
I fall short of it in the present,
and will fall short of it in the future.
In my finiteness I sin far too often.
My sins of commission and sins
of omission offend Your beauty
and purity. Forgive me for the
worry, doubt, anger and lack of
love in my heart at times. And
cleanse me in Your holiness. Amen.

Lord Elohim Kedoshim, I ask You
to show me favour and patience
even as I strive each day to
be more of a reflection of You
than I have been in the past.
Make my heart holy like Yours.
Speak to me before I think of wrong
thoughts or make wrong choices.
Intervene in my life and empower me
to live in holiness each day. Amen.

The Holy God Elohim Kedoshim

After being commended for their
faithful service in conquering the
land of Canaan, the warriors of the
tribes east of Jordan are sent home.
They recognised the Jordan River
which forms a natural barrier may
become a spiritual barrier as well.
To prevent this, a memorial altar
is built on the riverbank – an act
misunderstood by the tribes west
of Jordan. Civil war nearly breaks
out before the real motives behind
the altar are revealed. The book
closes with Joshua’s farewell
address in which he gives the
people an ultimatum: Choose you
this day whom you will serve.

Hallowed be Elohim Kedoshim:
Choose for yourself this day whom
you will serve, whether the gods
which your fathers served that
were on other side of the River,
or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell. But
as for me and my house we will
serve the Lord… (Joshua 24:15).
Joshua said to the people: He is
a Holy God (Elohim Kedoshim);
he is a jealous God. He will not
forgive your rebellion and your sins;
if you forsake the Lord and serve
foreign gods. He will turn and bring
disaster on you and make an end of
you, after He has been good to you.
But the people said to Joshua: No!
We will serve the Lord (Jos 24:19-21)

Lord Elohim Kedoshim, You dwell
in high and holy place, yet You also
dwell with those who are contrite
and of a humble heart. We thank
You, the Holy One, that You made
a way through Jesus Christ to
allow us into Your presence. And
grateful though You are holy, You
desire our heart & want to share
intimate relationship with us. Amen.

Lord Elohim Kedosim, I know You
want me to be holy as You are holy.
But I have fallen short in the past,
I fall short of it in the present,
and will fall short of it in the future.
In my finiteness I sin far too often.
My sins of commission and sins
of omission offend Your beauty
and purity. Forgive me for the
worry, doubt, anger and lack of
love in my heart at times. And
cleanse me in Your holiness. Amen.

Lord Elohim Kedoshim, I ask You
to show me favour and patience
even as I strive each day to
be more of a reflection of You
than I have been in the past.
Make my heart holy like Yours.
Speak to me before I think of wrong
thoughts or make wrong choices.
Intervene in my life and empower me
to live in holiness each day. Amen.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord (Feb 4)

After being commended for their
faithful service in conquering the
land of Canaan, the warriors of the
tribes east of Jordan are sent home.
They recognised that the Jordan
River (which forms a natural barrier
between the tribes) may one day
form a spiritual barrier as well.
To prevent this, a memorial altar
is built on the riverbank – an act
misunderstood by the tribes west
of Jordan. Civil war nearly breaks
out before the real motives behind
the altar are revealed.

Praise be to El Elohim Jehovah:
Then Reuben, Gad and the half-
tribe of Manasseh replied to
the heads of the clans of Israel:
The Mighty One, God, the Lord!
(El Elohim Jehovah) He knows,
and may Israel itself knows.
If it was rebellion, or if in an
unfaithful act against the Lord do
not save us this day (Josh 22:21-22)
For the Lord has made the Jordan
a border between you and us,
you children of Reuben and Gad…
Let us…built… an altar… that it may
be a witness between you and us…
that we may perform the service
of the Lord… that your descendants
may not say to our descendants…
you have no part in the Lord (v25-27)

El Elohim Jehovah, You are the Mighty One. You are our mighty
God, the Lord. We thank You that
in Your great power and might,
You also remain as Jehovah, the
relational God. You can accomplish
Your plans without me but thank
You for giving me a role in Your
plans anyway because You love me.
I humbly bow before You to honour
Your rightful place in my life. Amen.

Lord El Elohim Jehovah pardon
my iniquities for they are many.
I confess that I have not always
honoured You as the Mighty,
powerful and strong One over all.
Too often I place my own wants
and desires above seeking what
You want and desire in & thru me.
Forgive me for boxing You in rather
than acknowledging that You are
the Lord God. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Lord El Elohim Jehovah, teach us
to love like You; and teach us to
walk in Your strength and might
thru the power of the Holy Spirit.
From time to time we may be hit
by health, finance or relationship challenge but You Lord are mighty.
And we ask You to intervene in our
heart and mind when situations
arise so that we can manifest Your might and power in our lives. Amen.

The Lord of All The Earth (Feb 3)

The Jews are poised within view of
the land promised to their ancestors
and denied their unbelieving
parents. The task seems impossible:
a turbulent river; foreign terrain
to cross; mighty walled cities to
conquer. So God begins to prepare
His people for the days of warfare
just ahead. He reminds Joshua that
careful attention to His Word brings
blessing and success. Spies are
sent to survey Jericho, the first
obstacle in the land. The priests
bearing the ark of covenant lead the
people across the rampaging Jordan.

Praise the Lord of All The Earth:
(Joshua): See the ark of the
covenant of the Lord of all the
Earth (Jehovah Adon Kol Ha-Arets)
will go into the Jordon ahead of you.
Now then choose 12 men from the
tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
As soon as the priests who carry
the ark of the Lord, the Lord of
All The Earth (Jehovah Adon Kol
Ha-Arets) set foot in the Jordan,
its waters flowing downstream
will be cut off and stand up
in a heap (Joshua 3:11-13).

Jehovah Adon Kol Ha-Arets,
Praise You Lord for Your ability to
subdue all that’s in Your creation.
You are the great and awesome
God who still does mighty acts
on behalf of Your people. And
it’s comforting to know that
nothing is too difficult for You or
removed from Your control. And
in You we can find peace. Amen.

Lord, the Lord of All the Earth,
sometimes it can be really
difficult to see how You will
make a way where there seems
to be no way. Like the Israelites
despite receiving instructions
to walk thro Jordan into the
promised land, we sometimes
doubt You and forget that You
are in control of the situation.
Help us Lord remember the earth
is under Your command. Amen.

Lord, we ask for special grace
that we might keep our eyes
on Christ and not on the waves.
As Peter sank when he looked
down, I ask I’ll not sink but that
my eyes stay on You. I pray that
You will help me do whatever
You Lord ask me to do so that
I can witness Your miraculous
interventions in my life. Amen.

The Living God Elohim Yahim

The Jews are poised within view of
the land promised to their ancestors
and denied their unbelieving
parents. The task seems impossible:
a turbulent river; foreign terrain
to cross; mighty walled cities to
conquer. So God begins to prepare
His people for the days of warfare
just ahead. He reminds Joshua that
careful attention to His Word brings
blessing and success. Spies are
sent to survey Jericho, the first
obstacle in the land. The priests
bearing the ark of covenant lead the
people across the rampaging Jordan.

All Praise be to the Living God:            So Joshua said to the children                of Israel: Come here and hear                the words of the Lord your God:       And Joshua said: This is how
you will know that the living God
(Elohim Chayim) is among you
and that He will certainly drive
out the Canaanites, Hittites,
Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites,
Amorites and the Jebusites.
Behold, the ark of the covenant
of the Lord is crossing before
you into the Jordan (Jos 3:10-11).

Lord Elohim Chayim, we praise You
for Your powerful life-giving name.
Thank You for being active and
engaged in our everyday life.
You are not a God who is distant
and not keen in what happens to me.
Just as You helped the Israelites,
You Lord are alive and moving in
the situations of our lives as well.
Thank You for Your loving care. Amen

Lord Elohim Chayim, reveal Your
ways to me and show me Your path.
Give me discernment to see
Your work behind the scenes
when I do not see Your hand.
And Lord please go before me,
as You did with the Israelites,
to drive out the enemies and
help me to settle into the destiny
You have for me. In Jesus’ name.

Lord Elohim Chayim, You are
the source of my life; for every
breath that I take comes from You.
Forgive me for the times I don’t seem
to value the life You have given me.
Forgive me for making poor eating
choices or not sleeping enough or
not making effort to do exercises.
For You are the living God and You
are involved in all that I do. Amen.

Supreme God In Heaven (Feb 1)

Moses has died and Joshua is
appointed by God to take the reins
of leadership. The people are poised
within view of the land promised
to their ancestors and denied their
unbelieving parents. The task seems
impossible: a turbulent river to ford;
foreign terrain to cross; mighty walled
cities to conquer. So God begins
to prepare His people for the days
of warfare just ahead. He reminds
Joshua that careful attention to
His Word brings blessing & success.
Spies are sent to survey Jericho,
the first obstacle in the land. The
priests bearing the ark of covenant
lead the people across the rampaging
Jordan. The stage is set for conquest.

Praise be Supreme God In Heaven:
Rahab: We have heard how the
Lord made a dry path for you
through the Red Sea. And we
know what you did to the two
Amorite kings east of the Jordan
River, whose people u completely
destroyed. No one has the
courage to fight after hearing
such things. For the Lord your
God is supreme God in heaven
Elohim Bashamayim (Jos 2:10-11)

Lord Elohim Bashamayim,
who sits in heaven above,
You are truly ruler over all.
Power and might are in Your hand.
You alone can go before us to
open doors we could not open
on our own, and lead in a path we
could not have created on our own.
Be gracious Lord towards us as we
lift up our eyes & look to You. Amen

Lord Elohim Bashamayim, Your
word says: This is the victory
that overcomes, even my faith,
because You are God in heaven.
Forgive my little faith when it
comes to living out the victory
You have gained through Christ.
Have mercy when I doubt You
and show me grace as You
pardon my sins against You. Amen.

Lord Elohim Bashamayim, lift up
Your mighty arm and open Your
outstretched hand in my life
that I may experience Your power.
Clarify Your will so that I can
walk in the blessing of Your way
and bless others in the process.
Grant me Your favour because
nothing can stand in the way
when Your hand is upon me. Amen.

The Faithful God El Emunah

Moses’ second sermon begins in
chapter 5 and extends thru chap 26.
He opens with a reputation of the
Ten Commandments (hence the
name Deuteronomy – second law)
and exhorts the people to obey
the Lord from a heart of love,
to teach their children obedience
and to be careful not to forget the
Lord in times of prosperity. Victory
over the pagan occupants of Canaan
is assured as long as the people
faithfully obey God’s commands.
They will prevail, not because of
their strength, but because of
their Faithful all-conquering God.

All Praise be to El Emunah:
The Lord your God has chosen
you to be a people for Himself…
The Lord did not… choose you
because you were more in number
than any other people, for you
were the least of all peoples…
It was because the Lord loved you
and kept the oath He swore to
your forefathers that He brought
you out with a mighty hand and
redeemed you from the land of
slavery, from the power of Pharaoh
king of Egypt. Know therefore
that the Lord your God is God;
He is the faithful God El Emunah
who keeps covenant (Deut 7:6-9)

El Emunah, we adore You for the
faithfulness You show to us even
when we are unfaithful to You.
We praise You for Your covenant
of loving kindness and 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 hope. In Jesus’ name.

El Emunah, Your faithfulness
reminds me that I’m not always
faithful to You. Although I have
a heart to be faithful to You,
situations arise that evoke fears
and doubt, tempting me to make
choices of self-preservation
and selfishness. And so I confess
that I’m not fully faithful to You
Lord and to those around me.

El Emunah, remind us again and
again of Your faithfulness so that
we will grow to be more like You.
Strengthen the resolve in our
spirit to believe You are indeed
El Emunah for You’re faithful;
for You can’t make promises
You can’t keep for You can’t lie.
So we wait patiently upon Your
word for delay is not denial. And
Your promises shall come to pass at
the appointed time. In Jesus’ name.

Restoring our Worship of God

Backgrounder: Years after the
restoration from exile, the spiritual
conditn of God’s pple deteriorated
Again they lapsed into the same
sins that brought about captivity.
They tithe sporadically, ignore
the Sabbath and intermarry with
unbelievers. Their hearts have
grown hard and their love for God
has grown cold, yet Malachi comes
to remind the people of God’s love
for them. Malachi’ final warning
about the purifying Day of the Lord
marks the close of the OT period.

The Jews had not learned the lesson
of the exile nor had they listened
to the prophets. God deserves
our very best honour, respect
and faithfulness. But sin hardens
our hearts to our true condition.
Pride is unwarranted self-esteem;
it’s setting your own judgment above
God’s and looking down on others.
Lord, we’ll Offer Living Sacrifice;
Lord, we’ll Choose to Be Holy; and
Lord, we’ll Purpose to Fear You.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.

Lord, we’ll offer Living Sacrifice:
You have despised My name by
offering defiled sacrifices on my
altar. Isn’t it wrong to offer animals
that are crippled and diseased?
Try giving gifts like that to your
governor and see how pleased
he is…How I wish one of you would
shut the temple doors so that
these worthless sacrifices could
not be offered! I am not pleased
with you, says the Lord (Mal 1:6-10)
Lord Jesus, we are grateful for
Your sacrificial death on the
cross to atone for all our sins.
In deep appreciation, we will not
give You God our leftover time,
energy and resource. But instead
we will give ourselves to You
God as Living Sacrifices as our
offerings of love & gratitude. Amen.

Lord, we will choose to Be Holy:
Who can endure the day of His
coming? And who can stand
when He appears? For He is like
a Refiner’s Fire… He will sit as
a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold (Mal 3:2-3)
Lord, Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart, Cleanse me
from my sin Deep within
Refiner’s fire My heart’s
one desire Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You My Master
Ready to do Your will. Amen.

Lord, we Purpose to Fear You:
For you who fear My name,
the Sun of Righteousness (Christ)
will rise with healing in his wings.
And you will go free, leaping with
joy like calves let out to pasture.
Then you will trample down the
wicked; they will be ashes under
the soles of your feet on the day
when I do these things, says the
Lord Almighty (Malachi 4:2-3).
Sun of Righteousness, help me remember that fear of the Lord
is the foundation of true knowledge
And regardless of how life looks now,
we know that You God controls the future and You will make things right.
Let this truth sink into our inner being
so that we’ll leap with joy. Amen.

Preparing Day of the Lord (Jan 30)

Zechariah closes his prophecy
with overview of events in store
for Israel “in that day”. Militarily,
God would destroy all nations that
comes against Jerusalem (12:9).
Spiritually, idols and false prophets
would be removed from the land
(13:2-3) and Jerusalem would
become the focus of worship (14:20)
Politically, the Lord would be King
over all the earth (14:9). In short,
every aspect of Israel’s national
life would reflect God’s authority
– an exciting prospect indeed !!

The Messiah will come both to
rescue people from their sin and
to reign as king. He will establish
His kingdom, conquer all His
enemies and rule over all the earth.
Lord, we submit to Your leadership
now even as we get ready for
the King’s triumphant return.
Lord, we’ll Flow with the Spirit;
Lord, we’ll Come for Cleansing; and
Lord, we’ll Prepare for Your Return.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.

Lord, we will Flow with the Spirit:
On that day, the Lord will shield
those who live in Jerusalem, so that
the feeblest among them will be like
David… And I will pour out on the
house of David… a spirit of grace
and supplication (Zech 12:8-10).
Lord, we receive the prophecy that
in the last days the Holy Spirit will
be making supplications for us and
confirmed in Rom 8:27 that the
Spirit makes intercessions for the
saints according to the will of God.
In response, we purpose to separate
ourselves from the world and to
yield ourselves to the leading of
the Spirit. Meanwhile, we rest in
the Lord and wait patiently as the
Spirit prays within us according to
the will of God. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, we will Come for Cleansing:
On that day a fountain will be
opened for the dynasty of David
and for the people of Jerusalem,
a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity. On that day,
I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more, declares
the Lord Almighty. I will remove
both the prophets and the spirit of
impurity from the land (Zech 13:1-2)
Lord, thank You for such a great
salvation, including the forgiveness
for which You paid so great a price.
Thank You for opening up a fountain
of cleansing and inviting us to be
purged of sins. Cleanse away Lord
the sins that have left shameful
stains on the interior of our lives;
and make us pure again. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Prepare for Your Return:
And on that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem…
And the Lord shall be King over
the whole earth. On that day there
will be one Lord, and His name
the only name (Zechariah 14:8-9).
Lord, we don’t know when You
will return; but we know that You
want us to be ready at all times.
Lord, grant us the grace to put
You God first in all that we do and
all that we are. Help us be ready
by living according to Your Word
consistently and sharing the Gospel
to the lost. In Jesus’ precious name.

Knowing God through His Names

The purpose of Deuteronomy
is to remind the Jewish people of
what God had done and encourage
them to rededicate their lives to Him.
This week we understand God
better thru His revelation of Himself
of various names, mostly related to
His ability to meet needs of people.
On Monday, we learn from Deut 3
that our God is the God Who Rules.
On Tuesday, we learn from Deut 4
that our God is the Consuming Fire.
On Wednesday we learn from Deut 7
that our God is the Faithful God.
On Thursday, we learn from Deut 10
that our God is the God of gods.
On Friday, we learn from Deut 33
that our God is The Lord My Shield.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.