Category: weekend Exposition

Coming Hope for Israel
(Prayer Walk thro Joel)

Backgrounder: Addressing hearts
that have grown cold to the things
of God, Joel confronts the people
of Judah. He reminds them of
the recent destruction brought
by a plague of locusts. Yet that
disaster, a judgment in itself, will
seem pale beside the catastrophe
still to come. Unless the nation
repents, it will be destroyed
by an army from the north.
The only hope of escape is for
the people to repent. If they do,
then God will divert judgment
and will deliver an unparalleled
blessing – judgment on all Judah’s
enemies and the matchless
gift of peace to Zion !!

Dear Lord, You are in control, with
justice & restoration in your hands.
Thank You for your gracious
patience and that you want to
bless us rather than discipline us.
We purpose to be Faithful to You
by Repenting when we sin and
Aligning ourselves to your
thoughts and your ways. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Joel (Dec 3)”

God Protects His People
(Prayer Walk thro Obadiah)

Backgrounder: Obadiah is given
the unenviable task of confronting
two members of a feuding family.
The Jews in Judah (descendants
of Jacob) and the Edomites
(descendants of Esau) were blood
brothers but with little visible love
between them. When the enemies
of Judah attacked the capital city
of Jerusalem, the Edomites rushed
in to help the enemy! As a result,
God sends Obadiah to predict
doom for the nation for refusing
to be its “brother keeper.”

Dear Almighty God who is
in control and on our side.
Help us Not to Be Proud,
help us to Help Others in need;
and Protect us from harm. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Obadiah (Dec 2)”

The Divided Kingdom
(Prayer Walk thro 1 Kings 12-22)

Backgrounder: After Solomon’s
death, the northern tribes revolt
following an increase in tax burden
resulting in a divided kingdom of
two distinct nations (Israel and
Judah) ruled by two decadent
kings (Jeroboam and Rehoboam).
Chapter 15 begins a pattern that
will extend throughout the rest of
1 & 2 Kings. The writer flip flops
in his account between the nations
of Israel and Judah, first describing
the reigning power in the North,
then moving to the South & so on.
He traces the parallel stories of
two nations in spiritual decline,
taking time occasionally to
highlight a king (such as Ahab)
or a prophet (such as Elijah)
confronting the kings for their sins.

Dear Lord, we learn from 1Kings
U deal with sin in powerful ways.
Thanks for the lessons from
the ministry of Prophet Elijah.
When in challenging situation,
help us learn to Pray Boldly;
take Step of Faith; Expect U to
Act; yearn to Hear from You and
Press On with U in control. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro 1 Kings (Nov 26)”

Solomon’s Fame & Failure
(Prayer Walk thro 1 Kings 1-11)

Backgrounder: As David’s life
draws to a close, he publicly
proclaims Solomon his successor.
Solomon asks God for wisdom
to rule skilfully rather than for
wealth to live lavishly. In return,
God gives him both! Before his
death, David charged Solomon
with the responsibility of building
a house for God in Jerusalem.
Under Solomon’s able leadership,
the nation boundaries expand
five times the area ruled by David.
Financially, Solomon enjoys
unparalleled prosperity as tribute
from neighbouring nations flows
into national treasury. But even
as the nation prospers, the seeds
of spiritual decay are being sown.
Solomon’s passion for pagan
women turns his heart from the
God of heaven to gods of men.

Dear God, Thanks for the lessons
from the life of King Solomon.
Help us to Seek Your Wisdom;
Help us Follow Yr Will & Obey it &
Help us Turn our Heart to U. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro 1 Kings (Nov 25)”

Solomon’s Fame & Failure
(Prayer Walk thro 1 Kings 1-11)

Backgrounder: As David’s life
draws to a close, he publicly
proclaims Solomon his successor.
Solomon asks God for wisdom
to rule skilfully rather than for
wealth to live lavishly. In return,
God gives him both! Before his
death, David charged Solomon
with the responsibility of building
a house for God in Jerusalem.
Under Solomon’s able leadership,
the nation boundaries expand
five times the area ruled by David.
Financially, Solomon enjoys
unparalleled prosperity as tribute
from neighbouring nations flows
into national treasury. But even
as the nation prospers, the seeds
of spiritual decay are being sown.
Solomon’s passion for pagan
women turns his heart from the
God of heaven to gods of men.

Dear God, Thanks for the lessons
from the life of King Solomon.
Help us to Seek Your Wisdom;
Help us Follow Yr Will & Obey it &
Help us Turn our Heart to U. Amen

Lord, we Seek Your Wisdom:
That night the Lord appeared to
Solomon in a dream & God said:
What do you want? Ask and I will
give it to you! Solomon replied:
You have made me king… but
I am like a little child who doesn’t
know his way around… Give me
an understanding heart so that
I can govern your people well
and know the difference between
right and wrong. For who by
himself is able to govern this
great people of yours? The Lord
was pleased that Solomon had
asked for wisdom (1Kings 3:5-10)
Lord, help us seek your wisdom.
Open my ears to it & 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 & Your agenda first that
U will satisfy all our needs. Amen

Lord, we Follow Yr Will & Obey it:
Praise the Lord who has given
rest to his people Israel, just as
he promised. Not one word has
failed of all the wonderful promises
he gave thro his servant Moses.
May the Lord our God be with us
as he was with our ancestors;
may he never forsake us.
May he give us the desire to
do His will in everything and to
obey all the commands, laws
and regulations that he gave
our ancestors (1 Kings 8:56-57).
Lord, we praise you for keeping
covenant and fulfilling your plan.
Give me the desire to do your will.
Thanks for the promise that in
your faithfulness you will fulfill
your purpose in my life just as you
fulfilled all yr promises to Moses.
Not one of them failed and
neither will your promises to me.
So we purpose in our heart to want
to obey God & Do His will. Amen.

Lord, we Turn our Heart to You:
As Solomon grew old, his wives
turned his heart after other gods,
and his heart was not fully devoted
to the Lord his God, as the heart
of David his father had been…
Thus Solomon did what was evil
in the Lord’s sight; he refused
to follow the Lord completely…
The Lord was very angry with
Solomon for his heart had turned
away from the God of Israel who
had appeared to him twice. He
had warned Solomon specifically
about worshipping other gods but
Solomon did not listen (1K11:4-10)
Lord, we turn freshly to U today.
I want to stay close to U & not turn
my heart away as Solomon did.
Help me to never make an idol
out of anything or anyone, or
put them before you in any way.
Keep me to follow You all the days
of my life. Thank you for all the
good things You have given me.
And I put you above all else. Amen

Dear God, Thanks for the lessons
from the life of King Solomon.
Help us to Seek your wisdom,
recognise wisdom when I hear it
& courage to follow through on it.
Thanks for the good plan for each
of us & that u fulfil your promises.
Give me the desire to Follow your
will and the Obedience to do it.
Help me to Not to Make an Idol
out of anything or anyone.
Keep us to Follow U all the days
of our life, even as we purpose
to put you above all else.
Help us Turn our heart wholly to U
& we shall have no gods before U.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

A Wedding Song of Love
(Prayer Walk thro Song of S 1-8)

Backgrounder: Song of Songs
is a wedding song honouring
marriage. The most explicit
statements on sex in the Bible
can be found in this book.
It has been often criticised thro
the centuries because of its
sensuous language. The purity &
sacredness of love represented
here are greatly needed in our
day where distorted attitudes
about love and marriage abound.
God created sex and intimacy,
and they are holy and good
when enjoyed within the bounds
of marriage. A husband and wife
honor God when they love
and enjoy each other.

Lord, thanks for yr lovingkindness
and creating love as a gift to us.
Help us to Please each other;
to Express Admiration and to
Be Devoted to each other. Amen.

Lord, help us to Please each other:
Shulamite: Kiss me again & again
for your love is sweeter than wine…
The king is lying on his couch,
enchanted by the fragrance of my
perfume. My lover is like a sachet
of myrrh lying between my breasts.
Young Man: How beautiful u are
my beloved… Your eyes are soft
like doves. Young Woman: What
a lively sight you are my love…
My beloved is mine and I am
his (Song 1:1, 12-16 & 2:16).
Lord, U created love as a gift to us
and a delight for all our senses.
Help us to seek to please each
other and encourage by expressing
the beauty of our spouse. Amen.

Lord, Help us Express Admiration:
Lord, You are all fair, my love,
And there is no spot in you…
You have ravished my heart…
A garden enclosed is my sister,
my spouse, a spring shut up,
a fountain sealed… You are a
garden fountain, a well of flowing
water streaming down from
Lebanon (Song of Songs 4:7-15).
Lord, help us communicate love
and expressing admiration in words
and action that enhance marriage.
And fill us afresh with Your Spirit.
Overflow me with Your healing
stream so that when I am with any-
one, they will sense yr presence.
Make me be like a well of refreshing
water flowing out to others. Amen.

Lord, help us to Be Devoted:
Shulamite: I am my lover’s, the one
he desires. Come my love, let us
go out into the fields and spend
the night among the windflowers.
Let us get up early and go out
to the vineyards. And there I will
give you my love (Song 7:10-13).
Shulamite: Place me like a seal
over your heart. For love is as
strong as death, and its jealousy
is as enduring as the grave. Love
flashes like fire, the brightest
kind of flame. Many waters
cannot quench love; neither
can rivers drown it (Song 8:5-7).
Lord, as a marriage matures, grant
us greater freedom on who takes
the initiative to boost relationship.
Help us to be devoted & committed
to our spouse. And in so doing,
reflect the perfect love that
comes from U our God. Amen.

Lord, thanks for your gift of love
and a delight for all our senses
& Help us to Please each other.
Help us Communicate love and
expressing admiration in words
and action that enhance marriage.
Help us to Be Devoted & committed
to our spouse. And in so doing,
reflect the perfect love that
comes from U our God. Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LWvKtgK5Jg0

Wise Words from the King
(Prayer Walk thro Prov 25-31)

Backgrounder: In his closing
contribution to the book of
Proverbs, Solomon records
the riches of righteousness and
the fatal danger of foolishness.
False witnesses and friends,
the corrupt and the righteous,
the foolish and the wise,
the slothful and the diligent,
the deceitful and the dependable
– Solomon has something to say
to each! God’s wisdom gives
a proper perspective of things
and guidance in choosing the
right response to life’s situations.

Dear Lord, thanks for Solomon’s
sharing the riches of uprightness
and danger of foolishness to help
people make right choices in life.
Help us Lord to Obey your laws;
Help us to be Teachable and
Help us to put our Trust in U. Amen

Lord, we will Obey your laws:-
Better a poor man whose walk
is blameless than a rich man
whose ways are perverse…
If anyone turns a deaf ear to
the law, even his prayers are
detestable. Whoever causes
the upright to go astray in an
evil way, He himself will fall into
his own pit; but the blameless
will inherit good (Prov 28:6,9,10).
Lord, help us to know Your laws.
Teach me Your Word so that
I understand every time I read it.
Give me insight into Your ways
so that they become part of me.
Speak to my heart if my thoughts
words or actions gets off the mark.
Help us to walk life of integrity
and Keep us on the right path
so that our prayers are never
detestable to You so that we
will inherit a good life. Amen.

Lord, we will be Teachable:
He who remains stiff-necked
after many rebukes will suddenly
be destroyed without remedy…
Where there is no revelation,
the people cast off restraint;
but happy is he who keeps
the law (Proverbs 29:1 & 18).
Lord, help us not be stiff-necked
for making the same mistakes
over and over is an invitation
to disaster and facing the
consequence of refusing to learn.
Instead help us to be teachable,
to know God’s ways and keep
Your rules, for where there’s
ignorance, sin run wild. Amen.

Lord, we will put our Trust in You:
I am too ignorant to be human,
and I lack common sense. I have
not mastered human wisdom
nor do I know the Holy One.
Who but God goes up to heaven
and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans? Who
has created the whole world? Tell
me if u know! Every word of God
is pure; He is a shield to those who
put their trust in Him (Prov 30:2-5)
Lord, who holds the wind and
the oceans? It is U Almighty God!
You still the wind with your voice.
You orchestrate the changing
of the seasons. It is you who
created me and give me purpose
in life. Look into my heart & make
me a willing instrument in yr hands
trusting you. For it is not about
our abilities, it is all about U God
who does great things. Amen.

Dear Lord, thanks for Solomon’s
sharing on wisdom to help your
people make right choices in life.
Help us to be Teachable and not
Refuse to learn thereby making
the same mistakes over and over.
Help us to put our Trust in U;
for you are all powerful & limitless
and make me your instrument
in your hands to do your purpose.
Help us to Obey your laws;
and walk a life of integrity
so that we’ll inherit a good life.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpqBEEY6as

Wise Words for People in Authority
(Prayer Walk thro Prov 22-24)

Backgrounder:The final 11 chapters
of Proverbs contain sound counsel
for those in positions of authority.
The key to the section hangs
on Prov 21:1-2: The king’s heart
is in the hand of the Lord, like
the rivers of water; He turns it
wherever he wishes. Every way
of a man is right in his own eyes;
but the Lord weighs the hearts.
Today’s reading contains wise
counsel for anyone in a position
of responsibility: from parents
to princes, pastors to monarchs.
Leaders need to know God’s
precepts if they are to direct their
charges into God’s honouring
paths of conduct and character.

Dear Lord, we recognise that
You have put us in position of
authority in one way or another.
Thank you Lord for your precious
Words of wisdom in Proverbs
that provide sound counsel
for life, parenting and ventures.
Help us to Listen and Learn;
Love and Respect; and to Seek
Counsel and Prepare. Amen.

Lord, we will Listen and Learn:
Listen to the words of the wise;
Apply your heart to my instructions.
For it is good to keep these sayings
deep within yourself, always ready
on your lips. I am teaching you
today, so that your trust may
be in the Lord (Prov 22:17-19).
Lord, thank you for your desire
to teach us in your ways today.
You call me to rest in the fact
that you take responsibility for
instructing me, just as a loving
earthly father instructs his own
children. Plant your truth deep
within me so that your name
and your precepts will always be
on my lips. And as we apply our
heart & mind to your Word, bring
us into a deep trust in You. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Love & we’ll Respect:
Do not withhold correction
from a child, for if you beat him
with a rod, he will not die.
You shall beat him with a rod
and deliver his soul from hell…
Hear my son and be wise.
And guide your heart in the way…
Listen to your father who begot u..
Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and
understanding (Prov 23:12-23).
Lord, help us be a true father
who shows his love by carefully
training with proper discipline.
Help us be a respectful child
who listens with patience and
learns wisdom from our parents.
Grant us wisdom to save us from
evil & help us make right decisions.
And help us to live with discipline
and good understanding. Amen.

Lord,we’ll Seek Counsel & Prepare:
Thro wisdom a house is built and
by understanding it’s established…
A wise man has great power and
a man of knowledge increases
strength; for by wise counsel
you can wage war, and in an
abundance of counsellors
there is victory and safety…
Prepare your work outside & get
your fields ready; and afterwords
build your house (Prov 24:3-6,27)
Lord, Help us Find good advisors
before making major decisions.
Help us carry out work in proper
order for it’s possible to lose
everything despite hard work if
the timing is wrong or resources
to carry it out are not in place.
Help us develop wisdom that brings
security and confidence. Amen.

Dear Lord, we recognise that You
put us in positions of authority.
Thanks for providing counsel how
to live honourably & successfully.
Lord, Help us to Listen and Learn;
and as we apply your Word,
bring us into a Deep Trust in You.
Help us be true father who shows
his Love by proper discipline;
and help us be Respectful child
who listens with patience.
Lord, help us Find good Advisors
for major decisions; and help us
carry out work with Preparations.
And Grant us Wisdom & Grant us
Courage for the living of these days
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7_GLCRLkI

Wise Decisions in Life
(Prayer Walk thro Prov 17-21)

Backgrounder: The purpose
of Proverbs is to teach people
how to apply wisdom to daily
life & to provide moral instruction.
The varied statements of common
sense in today’s reading are
descriptions of the perils facing
the wise and the unwise. Through
it all, Solomon sees God at work
in the hearts & affairs of people,
helping them to avoid flattery
and falsehood and to display
obedient behavior instead.

Dear Lord, You want us to make
Wise Decisions & Be Obedient
to You. Help us to Be Cheerful;
Encourage Others; Overlook
Wrongs & Do What’s Right. Amen

Lord, we purpose to Be Cheerful:
A cheerful heart is good
medicine but a broken spirit saps
a person’s strength (Prov 17:22).
Lord, I want to have a cheerful
heart and not a broken spirit.
Help me to focus on you and
not on the circumstances I see
around me. As you help me to
do that by your Spirit, I will know
and experience your true joy
in my heart and life. Amen.

Lord, we will Edify & Encourage:
What a shame, what folly, to give
advice before listening to the facts!
Words satisfy the soul as food
satisfies the stomach; the right
words on a person’s lips bring
satisfaction. Those who love to talk
will experience the consequences,
for the tongue can kill or nourish
life (Proverbs 18:13 & 20-21).
Lord, keep me from jumping into
conclusions & becoming involved
in folly. And Give me the right
words to speak, words that will
satisfy the soul of the listener.
Let my words encourage and not
discourage those who hear them.
Help my tongue to nourish life
and not to kill it. Best of all,
help me to encourage others
to be encouragers. Amen.

Lord, help us Overlook Wrongs:
People with good sense restrain
their anger; they earn esteem by
overlooking wrongs (Prov 19:11).
Lord, help us to forgive others
in light of the unconditional love
we have found in You. When others
wrong me, help me remember
all the times you reached down
and covered my wrongs with
Your mercy. Help me see past
my anger & resolve disagreement
with grace. Help me to measure
my words and actions before
I speak or act. Amen.

Lord, help us Do What’s Right:
Every way of a man is right
in his own eyes; but the Lord
weighs the hearts … The Lord
is more pleased when we do
what is just and right than
when we give sacrifice (P21:2-3).
Lord, in all the decisions and
choices that I face each day,
help me to walk in obedience
to you and thus walk in integrity.
Empower me by your Spirit to
do what is just and right so that
I’m living a life that pleases you
and reflects yr character. Amen.

Dear Lord, You want us to make
Wise Decisions & Be Obedient to U:
Help us have cheerful heart, focus
on you & not on the circumstances.
Help us Encourage others by giving
the right words to edify the listener.
Help us to Overlook Wrongs,
forgive others & resolve conflicts
with grace and measured words.
Help us Do What’s just and Right
so that in our decisions we please
you and reflect your character.
We commit again with all we’re
For we are yours forever!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M0AyxEMFRbI

Wise Words of Solomon
(Prayer Walk thro Prov 10-16)

Backgrounder: The purpose
of Proverbs is to teach people
how to apply wisdom to daily
life & to provide moral instruction.
One of the best ways to learn a
wise action is to contrast it with a
foolish one. Most of the proverbs
today contrast the path of folly
with the path of faith. The topics
are varied and intensely practical:
how to use your mouth & money;
how to be a good neighbour;
how to select friends; how to
conduct business; how to resolve
conflicts. Think of today’s reading
as a training manual designed
to teach us how to respond
to life from God’s perspective.

Dear Lord, thanks for Proverbs
teaching wisdom for daily living.
Help us have Right Attitude on the
proper and effective use of Words.
Help us to be Open to Listen;
help us Speak Kind Words;
help us Pursue Right Living;
help us have Happy Heart and
help us Speak Word of Life. Amen

Lord, we will be Open to Listen:
A wise child accepts a patent’s
discipline; a young mocker
refuses to listen (Prov 13:1).
Lord, thank you for those who
share their insights with me.
Thank you for people who will
be honest with me and even
correct me when I need them.
Help me to be receptive rather
than defensive so that I can grow
in maturity and in character.
And Help me to discern what is
helpful, to examine instruction
in the light of your Word
and to grow. Amen.

Lord, we will Speak Kind Words:
A wicked & unreliable messenger
stumbles into trouble, but a
reliable and faithful messenger
and ambassador brings healing
and health (Proverbs 13:17).
Lord, thank you for allowing me
to be your ambassador. Let my
message be honest and true.
Help me to encourage others
and to go out of my way to speak
a Kind word. Forgive me for times
when I have spoken without
thinking. Let me live in such
a way that my words and actions
represent U so that my message
may be of live and hope. Amen.

Lord, we will Pursue Right Living:
The Lord detests the sacrifice of
the wicked, but the prayer of the
righteous pleases him. The Lord
despises the way if the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue
godliness…The godly think before
speaking; the wicked spout evil
words. The Lord is far from the
wicked, but he hears the prayer
of the righteous (P15:8-9, 28-29)
Lord, grateful that You see me
as righteous because of my
relationship with Jesus. But I
know U also want me to choose
to Live Righteously as well. Pray
that my thoughts, words and
actions will always be pleasing
in Your sight so that my prayers
will be pleasing to your ears.
Enable me every day to do what
is right in your sight. Amen.

Lord, help us have Happy Heart:
For the poor and the afflicted,
every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is
a continual feast (Prov 15:15).
Lord, help me to have a happy
heart. Remove the anxiety that
sometimes weigh my heart down.
Keep my heart fr growing proud,
and give me a pure heart that is
pleasing to you. Help me to hide
your Word in my heart so that
I can walk in your ways & enjoy a
life that is a continual feast. Amen

Lord, we will Speak Words of Life:
The heart of the wise teaches his
mouth & adds learning to his lips.
Kind and pleasant words are like
honey – sweet to the soul and
healthy for the body (P16:23-24).
Lord, give me kind words – Your
words of life – with which to bless
those around me. As my words
are born in my heart, Sweeten
my soul with your Spirit. And
Soften and expand my heart to
hold your love for others. May
my words be gifts of sweetness
to those around me today. Amen.

Dear Lord, thanks for Proverbs
teaching wisdom for daily living.
Help us to Pursue Right Living
and enable us every day to
do what is right in your sight.
Help us hv Happy Heart by hiding
your Word in our heart & removing
anxiety that weighs us down.
Help us have Right Attitude on the
proper & effective use of words.
Help us be Receptive to Listen
to those who share their insights
and even corrections, so that we
may grow in maturity & character.
Help us Speak words of Sweetness,
Kind words, Encouraging words,
which will bless those around us.
Help us Speak Wonderful Words
of Life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JCzZslfbBEM