Author: tanahmerah

Keeping Faith & Not Giving Up

The third patriarchal character
Jacob truly lives up to his name,
stealing the family blessing meant
for his twin brother Esau. But it is
through Jacob that God’s promises
are fulfilled in a greater degree.
During a 20-year stay in Haran,
Jacob the schemer becomes
Jacob the servant of God.
After leaving his uncle Laban, he
reconciles to God, wrestling with
the angel of Jehovah that leaves
him with a new name Israel & limp.

Dear Lord, thanks for Yr goodness
and redemption plan for mankind.
Help us to Trust You like Abraham
though not having all the answers;
Submit to Your Will like Isaac and
not demanding one own’s way;
and Have Persevering Faith like
Jacob who Didn’t Give Up easily.
Lord, we see in the story of Jacob
that You transform people in the
course of fulfilling Your promises.
Help us to have the tenacity of
Jacob who Didn’t Give Up easily:
Choosing Long-term Significance,
Willing to work hard Patiently and
Persevering On God’s promises.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
Continue reading “Praying thro Gen 25-36 (Jan 27)”

Submitting to the Lord’s Will

Abraham’s faith is tested again
as God calls upon him to sacrifice
treasured son Isaac upon the altar.
Abraham obeys; and able-bodied
Isaac too submitting to Lord’s will.
For their faithfulness, God rewards
them with assurances of blessings.
In the closing years of Abraham’s
life, a time saddened by Sarah’s
death, there remains one important
detail: finding a suitable bride
for Isaac, who again shows his
submission to the Lord’s will.

Lord, we learn from Isaac that
he did not demand his own way.
He did not resist when he was
about to be sacrificed; he gladly
accepted a wife chosen for him
by others and he obediently
follow the instruction of the Lord.
Like Isaac, we must learn to put
God’s will ahead of our own.
Lord, help us to Fully Trust in You;
help us to Submit to Your Will and
help us Follow Your Leading. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Gen 22-26 (Jan 26)”

Thank God for Fighting Our Battle

King Jehoshaphat knows that
the key to spiritual revival in the
nation is a renewed interest in and
commitment to the law of the Lord.
He institutes a nationwide Scripture
study program which God richly
blesses with peace and prosperity.
In contrast to his predecessors,
Jehoshaphat manages to make
peace with the king of Israel.
But a friendly visit nearly costs
his life as he becomes entangled
in a war between Israel and Syria.

Lord, praise U for Yr Mighty Power:
Then some pple told Jehoshaphat:
A great multitude is coming against
you from Syria… And Jehoshaphat
feared, proclaimed a fast and stood
in the assembly of Judah in the
house of the Lord and said: O God,
are You Not God of heaven & do
You Not Rule over all the nations so
that No One is able to Withstand U?
Are You Not our God, who drove
out the inhabitants of this land
and gave it to the descendants
of Abraham forever?…We will stand
before this temple and cry out to
You in our affliction, and You will
hear and save… For we have no
power against this great multitude
that is coming against us; nor do
we know what to do; but our eyes
are Upon You (2Chr 20:2-12) Amen.
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in 2Chr 20 (Jan 25)”

Thank God for Watching Over Us

King of Judah Asa removes all
traces of foreign religion from
the land and commands the
people to return to the careful
observance of God’s statutes.
But towards the end of his reign,
Asa faces a threat from Baasha
(king of Israel) and seeks alliance
of protection with the king of Syria.
Even on his deathbed he puts
his trust in earthly physicians alone
rather than in the Great Physician.

Lord, we look up to You for help:
At that time Hanani the seer came
to Asa king of Judah and said
to him: Because you have relied
on the king of Syria and have
not relied on the Lord your God,
therefore the army of the king of
Syria has escaped from your hand.
Were the Ethiopians…not a huge
army? Yet because U relied on the
Lord, He delivered them into your
hand. For the eyes of the Lord
run to & fro throughout the whole
earth, to show Himself strong
on behalf of those whose heart
is loyal to Him (2Chr 16:7-9) Amen
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in 2Chr 16 (Jan 24)”

Thank God for What He Has Done

The ark of the covenant features
prominently in Chronicles being
mentioned more than 40 times.
And the events surrounding the
journey of the ark to Jerusalem
consumes 1Chr 13-15 & 3 months
elapse before the journey can be
completed. But when the ark is at
last installed in Jerusalem, David
leads the pple in national celebratn.

Lord, thanks for what U have done:
So they brought the ark of God
and set it in the midst of the
tabernacle that David had erected
for it. Then they offered burnt
offerings & peace offerings before
God… On that day David first
delivered this psalm to thank the
Lord: Oh give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name; make known
His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him!
Talk of all His wondrous works!…
Remember His marvellous works
which He has done (1Chr 16:1-12)
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in 1 Chr 16 (Jan 23)”

Thank God for Answering Prayers

The epitaph over the tomb of King
Hezekiah might well have read:
Hezekiah, “Best King of Judah.”
Taking the throne at a young age
of 25, he soon establishes himself
as a great reformer by destroying
all traces of heathen worship.
Choosing to put his trust in God
rather than in armies, Hezekiah
often found himself on his knees.
In response to the king’s prayers,
God strikes 185,000 Assyrian dead
& extends Hezekiah’s life by 15 yrs.

Lord, Thank U for Hearing Prayer:
Hezekiah received the letter from
(Assyrian) messengers and…went
up to the house of the Lord, and
spread it before the Lord. Then
Hezekiah prayed: O Lord God
of Israel… You are God, You alone
… have made heaven and earth.
Incline Your ear O Lord and hear;
open Your eyes O Lord and see;
and hear the words of Sennacherib
which… reproach the living God…
Therefore O Lord our God save us
from his hand that all the kingdoms
of the earth may know that You are
the Lord God, You alone (Amen).
Then Isaiah sent to Hezekiah
saying: Because you have prayed
to Me against Sennacherib king of
Assyria, I’ve heard (2Kgs 19:14-20)
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in 2Kgs 19-20(Jan22)”

Thank God for Giving Wisdom

In the final hours before his death,
David charges Solomon to walk
before the Lord in integrity and
truth – a request which Solomon
fulfills in the early days of his reign
by ruling with justice, humility
and honesty before God & man.
Presented with a “blank cheque”
by God, Solomon Asks for Wisdom
to rule skilfully rather than wealth.
In return, God Gives him both!

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to
Solomon: Ask! What shall I Give u?
And Solomon said: O Lord my God,
You have made Your servant king…
Therefore give to Your servant
an understanding heart to judge
Your people, that I may discern
between good and evil. For who
is able to judge this great people
of Yours? The speech pleased
the Lord that Solomon had asked
this thing. Then God said to him:
Because you have asked this thing
understanding to discern justice…
I have given you a wise and
understanding heart, so that there
has not been anyone like you…
And I have also given you what
you have not asked: both riches
and honour, so that there shall
not be anyone like you among
kings all your days (1Kgs 3:5-13).
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in 1 Kgs 3-4 (Jan 21)”

Faithful God Fulfils His Promises

Genesis 15-21 describes the
Abrahamic covenant in great detail,
confirmed with a unilateral treaty
and established by the sign of
circumcision. But as the years
pass with no evidence of fulfilment
Abraham acts in foolish impatience.
The result is a son Ismael, who will
cause the heartbreak of his father,
constantly reminding Abraham
the price of his unbelief. But
the Gracious God keeps reminding
Abraham & Sarah of His promise and
eventually fulfil it in His time.

Dear Creator & Almighty God,
thank You that You not only
have a great plan for mankind,
but also a good plan for each
of us that we may walk in them.
Lord, Help us Live a life of Faith
by having the Patience to Wait;
Trusting Nothing Too Difficult for U
& Knowing U Keep Promises. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Gen 15-21 (Jan 20)”

The Call to Journey of Faith

Genesis 12-14 describe God’s call
of Abram to leave his home in Ur
& travel to a unspecified new land.
Abram faces potential distractions
along the way: death of his father,
a severe famine, worldly pursuits
of his nephew Lot. But God is
looking for a man of Faith who
will Trust Him completely to keep
His promises. For Abram and his
descendants, those promises
include receiving a great name,
becoming a great nation and
experiencing great blessing
in the face of impossible odds.

Lord, we’ll Obey Your Call of Faith:
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
Get out of your country, from your
family… to a land that I will show u.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you and make your name
great; and you shall be a blessing…
and in you all the families of the
earth shall be blessed. So Abram
departed as the Lord had spoken
to him… And Abram was 75 years
old when he left Haran (Gen 12:1-4)
Continue reading “Praying thro Gen 12-14 (Jan 19)”

Thank God for His Forgiveness

At a time when David should
have been on the field of battle,
he finds himself instead on the
roof of the palace. A casual glance,
a lustful thought, an inquiry and
the king of Israel set in motion
a chain of events that culminates
in adultery and murder. God then
sends Nathan to David to uncover
the whole ugly scheme; and David
repents and receives forgiveness.

Lord, we come for Yr Forgiveness
The Lord sent Nathan to David…
Then Nathan said to David:
You are the man… Why have you
despised the commandment of
the Lord, to do evil in His sight…
So David said to Nathan: I have
sinned against the Lord. And
Nathan said to David: The Lord
also has Put Away your sin;
you shall not die (2Sam 12:1-13).
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in 2 Sam 12 (Jan 18)”