The purpose of Jeremiah is to urge
God’s people to turn from sins and
back to God; Daniel shows how God
is in control & cares for His people,
Hosea shows God’s love for sinful
people; and Zechariah gives hope by revealing God’s future deliverance.
This week we understand God better
thru seeing His Shepherding Ways.
On Monday, we learn from Jer 18
that Master Potter Moulds You.
On Tuesday, we learn from Jer 28
that God Has Good Plans for You.
On Wednesday, we learn from Dan 2
about God who Gives Revelation.
On Thursday, we learn from Dan 4
about God who Fulfils Dreams.
On Friday, we learn from Hosea 11
about God who is Loving & Faithful.
On Sat, we learn from Zec 12/13
about Gracious God who Delivers.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.
Though horrible judgment would
fall on Israel’s neighbours, Israel
would be preserved for the long-
awaited day of her Messiah’s arrival.
The King of Zion would come
riding upon the colt of a donkey
to defend His people and defeat
His enemies just as He promised.
Zechariah closes his prophecy
with a breathtaking panorama of
events in store for Israel in that day.
Lord, help us to Be Gracious:
Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion
Behold your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly & riding on a donkey(Zech9:9)
In that day the Lord will defend
the inhabitants of Jerusalem…
And I will pour on the house of David
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
the Spirit of Grace and supplication;
then they will look on Me
whom they pierced. Yes they
will mourn for Him as one mourns
for his only son (Zech 12:8, 10).
In that day a fountain shall be
opened for the house of David
and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem
for sin and uncleanness (Zech 13:1)
Lord Jesus, You came so gently
and humbly to us Your people;
and the world senselessly crucified
You instead of bowing to You.
In Your grace and mercy forgive
us Lord and grant our eyes the
vision to see You are a good King.
In Your power, help us overcome
resistance & rebellion; and lead
us under Your loving rule. Amen.
Lord Jesus, we look forward to the
day when You reign as King on earth.
Meanwhile, our hearts are burdened
over those who yet to know You.
Spirit, help us to bring them, out
of unbelief, out of hardness, out of
rebellion to the cleansing fountain.
This we desire for we know You are
not willing any should perish but
all will come to repentance. Amen.
Lord Jesus, thank You so much
for Your sacrifice on the cross;
for without the shedding of blood
there can be no remission of sin.
Thank You that because of Your
great act of love, we have our sins
washed away & receive restoration
of relationship with Father God.
Spirit of Christ, we ask Your enabling
for apart from U we can do nothing.
And in gratitude we declare Your
redeeming love thru our lives. Amen
After repeated postponement of
Israel’s day of reckoning, the time
to settle accounts has come at last.
Barrenness and bondage will
replace prosperity and peace.
Because of unchecked sin, Israel
will be removed from the land in
a tragic blast of judgment & death.
Destruction, famine and forced
labour will befall God’s people in
these terrible days of recompense.
Although the nation deserves
to be destroyed, God will keep
His promises. God is holy and just,
but He is also loving and gracious.
God must discipline, but because
of His faithfulness & endless love,
He will ultimately save and
restore His wayward people.
Loving & Faithful Lord, we adore U:
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son…
I taught Ephraim to walk, taking
them by their arms; but they
did not know that I healed them.
I drew them with gentle cords,
with bands of love (Hosea 11:1-4).
My people are bent on backsliding
from Me. Though they call to the
Most High, none at all exalt Him.
How can I give you up Ephraim?..
My heart churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred. I will not
execute the fierceness of My anger…
Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
and the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
even with the Holy One who
is faithful (Hosea 11:7-9, 12).
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 life.
Help us honour You in all we do
& help us focus on Your holiness.
Empower us Lord to live a life
that is set apart to You. Amen.
Lord God The Holy One, do Your
work of sanctification within me.
I want to honour You with my life;
and I want to resist sin each day.
At the same time, I confess some
thing within me is attracted by evil. Keep me blameless Lord and
give me a deep love for You and
the zeal for Your glory that will
surpass impure passion. Amen.
Faithful Lord, I believe my deepest
longings will be fulfilled; and bring
them to You to do as You please.
Use them Lord to accomplish
Your purposes; and I believe that
You will get me where I need to go.
I am available Lord to work out
the calling that You have for me.
And I know Lord You are faithful
and that You will do it. Amen.
Perhaps when you think of Daniel,
you think of a young man. But the
book of Daniel covers 70 years
in the life of this prophet of God.
Daniel was 76 years old in chap 4,
86 years in chap 5 and 93 in chap 6.
Throughout his days, Daniel’s
faith shines brightly, whether
in interpreting a king’s dream,
reading the hand-writing on the
wall, or taking a stand for his God.
Lord, You Rule & Fulfil Dreams:
I thought it good to declare
the signs and wonders that the
Most High God has worked for me.
How great are His signs, and
how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and His dominion is from
generation to generation (Dan 4:2-3)
As he looked out across the city,
he said: Just look at this great city
of Babylon! I by my own mighty
power have built this beautiful city…
While he was still speaking these
words, a voice called down from
heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar,
this message is for you! You are
no longer ruler of this kingdom…
You will live in the fields with the
wild animals and you will eat grass
like a cow… until you learn that
the Most High rules over the
kingdoms of the world and gives
them to anyone He chooses(v30-32)
Lord, thank You that wisdom and
understanding comes from U alone.
Thank U for reassuring knowledge
that You are in control of every area
of my life. I confess with my heart,
how great are Your signs & wonders;
and Your kingdom is everlasting.
Thank You that You are my God
and Saviour, for in You I have placed
my trust. Praise Your mighty name.
Lord, we note Nebuchadnezzar’s
prideful heart when he says:
“By my own mighty power,
I have built this beautiful city.”
Lord, we realise we can also
fall into prideful tendencies.
King of heaven, Your rule is ever
lasting and Your kingdom eternal.
Your acts are just and true; and
You are able to humble the proud.
Humble, restore and lead us. Amen.
Lord, If drunk with sight
of power, we lose
Wild tongues that have
not Thee in awe,
Such boasting as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the law
Lord God of hosts be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget…
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget. Amen
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… wisdom are His (Dan 2:19-20)
He Reveals deep and mysterious
things and knows what lies Hidden
in darkness… I thank and praise U
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 (Daniel 2:47).
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 Lord Your wisdom and
strength to handle the tricky
situations each day. In Jesus’ name.
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
and You’re willing to reveal them
to us. For Your Spirit searches out
all things and shows God’s deep
secrets to those who love Him.
Reveal to us Lord those things
which You are custodian. Amen.
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 dons
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:
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 & a future.
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 29:10-14).
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 in seeking You,
I know that I will find You. 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 our 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, 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 that my hope be grounded
in Your Unchanging character. Amen
Jeremiah himself becomes an
object lesson to his nation, for
his very life models the reality
of what is soon to befall Judah.
The prophet is commanded to
remain celibate & avoid feast days
– a reminder to his countrymen
that they will soon experience
involuntarily what Jeremiah is
called to experience voluntarily.
Discipleship is often costly,
but it is also always profitable.
Lord, Have Thine Own Way:
The word which came to Jeremiah
from the Lord, saying… Go down
to the potter’s house and there
I will cause you to hear My words…
I found the potter working at his
wheel. But the jar he was making
did not turn out as he had hoped,
So he crushed it into a lump of
clay again and started over. Then
the Lord gave me this message:
O Israel, can I not do to you as
this potter has done to his clay?
As the clay is in the potter hand,
so are you in my hand (Jer 18:1-6).
O Lord and Sovereign God, we
acknowledge Your will is good.
Like a potter at the wheel You shape
us to the people You want us to be.
Although we may allow ourselves
to become mid-shaken by acts
of our self will; You Lord wants to
reshape us to a beautiful creation.
O Holy Spirit help us to be soft
and receptive to Your hand on us.
As we yield to You God to shape us,
we ask for mercy and grace. Amen.
Lord, like clay in the potter’s hand,
we are imperfect but You can mold
us into something beautiful & useful.
Draw us, guide us and teach us Lord
to live all of our lives thro Your eyes.
We may be pressured; but You say:
Fear not, for I am with you. I will help
you, strengthen you and uphold you.
So, take us, mould us, fill us, lead us
and walk beside us as we give our
lives to U, the master potter. Amen.
Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and made me after Thy will
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only always living in me! Amen
In the face of trouble and anguish,
Isaiah proclaims a note of hope.
The people that walked in darkness
have seen A Great Light (Isa 9:2).
There is coming a Child whose very
names instil hope and confidence.
Though shadows of judgment
darken the horizon, the redeemed
ones can sing, for the ultimate
victory is already assured.
Lord, You’re Everything We Need:
Time of darkness will not go on
forever… The people who walk in
darkness will see A Great Light…
For God will break the chains
that binds His people…
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given…
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
… He will reign over His Kingdom,
establishing and upholding it…
The Passionate Commitment
and zeal of the Lord Almighty will
guarantee this! (Isa 9:1-7) Amen.
Lord Jesus, we claim Isaiah 9:6 that
says: Nothing will stand in Your way
& nothing is outside Your authority.
We pray for resilience in hard times;
for we know that it is through trial
that people grow and mature. But in
Your mercy, don’t test beyond what
we can bear. And grant us grace
to live in peace & favour of break-
through for a new season. Amen.
Lord Jesus, You are our Prince of
Peace. Help us learn to rest in You,
to draw near to You in good times
and bad. Thank You for the promise
of deliverance & victory over trials.
In tough times teach me Lord to
look to You and to lean on You.
And make me a good example
of Your supernatural peace;
for You are my Peace. Amen.
Lord, help me to join You at work
to further Your Kingdom on earth.
Help me display Your character
as well as demonstrate Your way.
Teach me to trust in Your zeal
for my life and to know that Your
purposes cannot be stopped.
Expand Lord Your kingdom in me;
and let me feel Your passion for
me and for Your purposes. Amen.
The purpose of prophetic book of
Isaiah is to call the nation of Judah
back to God and to tell of God’s
salvation through the Messiah.
This week we understand God better
thru seeing His Shepherding Ways.
On Monday, we learn from Isaiah 6
that God Reveals then Calls You.
On Tuesday, we learn from Isa 9
that God Provides Your Needs.
On Wednesday, we learn from Isa 30
that God Saves & Directs You.
On Thursday, we learn from Isa 40
that God Comforts & Strengthens.
On Friday, we learn from Isaiah 46
that God Cares & Sustains You.
On Saturday, we learn from Isa 57
that God Refreshes & Encourages.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.
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.
For instance, His visage was so
marred more than any man (52:14)
and: He was wounded… He was
bruised… the chastisement of
our peace was upon Him; and with
His stripes we are healed (53:5).
Lord, You’ll Refresh the Humble:
Prepare the way, Take the stumbling
block out of the way of My people.
The high and lofty one who inhibits
eternity, the Holy One says this:
I live in that 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…
I have seen his ways, and will
heal him; I will also lead him, and
restore comfort to him(Isa 57:14-18)
Lord, You are high and lifted up,
glorious and exalted! And I am 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.
Thank You for meeting me right
where I am and for bringing
renewed courage for my life. Amen
Lord, help me live in Your power
& to rise above circumstances.
Help me to humbly rest in You
and grant me the needed strength.
Help me Lord to live as one who
is constantly Refreshed by You.
Help me to be lowly and be lifted
up in boldness and new Courage.
For I want to be in syn with You and
be drawn into Your purposes. Amen.
Lord, a broken spirit
and a contrite heart
You will not despise,
You will not despise
You desire truth in the inward parts
A broken spirit and a contrite heart
Lord, my heart is prone to wander
Prone to leave, the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord take & seal it
Seal it for, Your courts above. Amen
