Author: Chiasochris

God Is Tender & Helps the Weak

Backgrounder on Isaiah 40-43:
The book of Isaiah has been likened
to a miniature Bible, its 66 chapters
paralleling the 66 books of Bible.
The first 39 chapters of Isaiah,
like the 39 books of the OT
proclaim judgment upon sinful
mankind. God’s patience is great,
but He will not allow persistent sin
go unpunished. Beginning with
today’s section, the final 27
chapters of Isaiah, like the 27 books
of the NT, proclaim a message of
comfort and hope. The Messiah
is coming to be the Saviour of
sinful people. Therefore, comfort
ye my people, saith your God (40:1)

Lord, U are Tender to Your People:
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his
heart; he gently leads those
that have young (Isa 40:11).
The Everlasting God, the Lord,
the creator of the ends of the
earth neither faints nor is weary…
He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might
He Increases Strength…
But those Who Wait on the Lord
Shall Renew their strength:
They shall mount up with wings
like eagles, they shall run and
not be weary, they shall walk
and not faint (v28-31). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 27)”

God Strengthens & Directs You

Backgrounder on Isaiah 28-30:
Isaiah’s prophecies begin to focus
on the approach of the Assyrians.
Ephraim (northern kingdom) reels
like a drunkard, oblivious to the
danger & falsely confident in Egypt
to deliver her in time of trouble.
Ariel (Jerusalem, symbol of the
southern kingdom) stands next
in line for judgment if her citizens
follow Ephraim’s sorry example by
relying upon Egypt for protection.

Lord, You Strengthen & Direct Us:
This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: In repentance & rest is your
salvation, in quietness and Trust
is your Strength (Isa 30:15).
The Lord longs to be gracious to
you; therefore He will rise up to
show you compassion. Blessed
are all Who Wait for Him (v18).
Whether you turn to the right
or to the left, your ears will
hear a voice behind you saying:
This is the Way, Walk in it (v21).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 26)”

God Renews Faith of His People
(Prayer Walk thro Neh 1-13)

Backgrounder: A rebuilt temple
stands in Jerusalem, but only
crumbled walls surround the Holy
City.There’s much work to be done.
For the task of rebuilding the city
walls, God raises up Nehemiah
to lead the third & last expedition
of Jewish returnees from Persia.
In spite of stiff opposition to the
reconstruction efforts, Nehemiah
and his band of bricklayers
complete the job in only 52 days.
Nehemiah’ zeal extends not only
to reconstructing the city, but also
to reforming its citizentry – a task
which demands inspired leadership

Dear Lord, thank you for the last
OT historical book, which records
the third return to Jerusalem
after captivity, how the walls
were rebuilt and the people were
renewed in their faith. Thank You
that we’re Stirred by Your Spirit;
that Your Joy is Our Strength &
that You are Gracious & Merciful.
Help us to Watch & Pray. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Nehemiah (Mar 25)”

God Is Faithful to His Promise
(Prayer Walk thro Ezra 1-10)

Backgrounder: After 70 years
of exile, God Fulfils His Promise
to return His people to their
homeland. Under His direction,
King Cyrus of Persia now rules
Babylonia, and the Jews are free
to go home. The first group of
returnees rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem (E1-6). 58 years later,
Ezra leads a second group back to
Jerusalem to rebuild the spiritual
character of the people (E7-10).

Dear Lord, thank You for the book
of Ezra, showing God’s faithfulness
and the way You kept Your promise
to restore Your people to their land.
Help us not get discouraged and
quit; but instead to continue on boldly in the face of life challenges.
Help us to Use Gifts for Kingdom; Help us Not Fear but Focus on U;
Help us Submit wholly to U. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Ezra (Mar 24)”

God Is Absolutely Reliable

Backgrounder on Isaiah 28-30:
Isaiah’s prophecies begin to focus
on the ominous approach of the
Assyrian armies. Ephraim (northern
kingdom) reels like a drunkard,
oblivious to the danger and falsely
confident in the armies of Egypt
to deliver her in time of trouble.
Ariel (Jerusalem, symbol of the
southern kingdom) stands next
in line for judgment if her citizens
follow Ephraim’s sorry example by
relying upon Egypt for protection.

Lord, You are Reliable & Merciful:
So this is what the Sovereign Lord
says: See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone, a precious corner-
stone for a Sure Foundation;
the one Who Relies on it will never
be stricken with panic (Isa 28:6).
When a farmer plows for planting,
does he plow continually? Does
he Keep On Breaking up & working
the soil? When he has levelled the
surface, does he not Sow caraway
and scatter cumin?(v24-25) Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 23)”

God Gives Peace to People of Faith

Backgrounder on Isaiah 24-27:
In these 4 chapters, the redeemed
ones, vindicated at last, break forth
in spontaneous song, exalting
the Lord. Though often downcast
and downtrodden, the people
of God now have something
truly worth singing about: refuge,
deliverance and ultimate triumph
in the Holy One of Israel.

Lord, U Give Peace to the Trusting:
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in You.
Trust in the Lord forever, for
the Lord, the Lord Himself is
the Rock eternal (Isa 26:3-4).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 22)”

God Gives Everything We Need

Backgrounder on Isaiah 8-12:
In the face of trouble, darkness
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:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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:
Nevertheless, that time of
darkness will not go on forever…
The people who walk in
darkness will see A Great Light…
Israel will again be great,
and its people will rejoice…
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.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 21)”

God Keeps His Promises

Backgrounder on Isaiah 5-7:
Wickedness has permeated Judah
and Isaiah’s call for repentance is
so urgent that even his commission
was delayed. The task before Isaiah
is unenviable, for God had said the
pple will be spiritually deaf & near
-sighted. But having encountered
God, Isaiah begins to declare harsh
words from on high with confidence

Lord, You Keep Your Promises:
(God said): Ask me for a sign,
Ahaz, to prove that I will crush
your enemies As I Have Promised…
But the king refused… Therefore
the Lord Himself will Give you
A Sign. The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son, and will
call him Immanuel (Isa 7:11-14).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 20)”