PrayerThots Devotional

God Declares & Fulfills His Plan

Before his death, David had
charged his son Solomon with the
responsibility of building a house
for God in Jerusalem. Now at last
it’s time to make that dream a reality.
For seven years Solomon plans and
prepares the Temple. When at last
the ark of the covenant is installed
in the Holy Place, the cloud of
God’s presence fills the house of
the Lord. Once again, God’s glory
dwells in the midst of His people.

Lord, we trust You Fulfil Your Plan:
It came to pass when the priests
came out of the holy place, that the
cloud filled the house of the Lord…
So the Lord has fulfilled His word…
and I have built a temple for the
name of the Lord (1 Kgs 8:10,20).
But will God indeed dwell on earth?
Behold, heaven… can’t contain You.
How much less this temple which
I have built! Yet regard the prayer
of Your servant and his supplication,
O Lord my God, and listen to the cry
and the prayer which Your servant
is praying before You (v27-28).
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 through His servant Moses.
May the Lord our God be with us…
may He never forsake us.
May He give us the desire to do
His will in everything and to obey
all the commands (v56-58).

Lord, noticed that it wasn’t until the
temple was completed that God’s  
glory took residence there – God’s
stamp of approval of a job well done.
We remember Your past deeds in
our life showing Your faithfulness.
And we trust that You will fulfil
Your promises in Your way and time.
Though sometimes it may seem late
to us, it will still be on time. Amen.

Lord, I thank You for Your presence,
and I am humbled that You through
Your Holy Spirit live inside of me.
Help me to never be full of myself,
but rather to always be freshly filled
with more of You Lord each day.
Help me to have a sense of Your
presence, especially as I read Your
Word and pray and live in obedience
to Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, we praise You for keeping
covenant & fulfilling Your purposes!
Grant us O Lord the desire to Do
Your Will in more spheres of life.
Trust in Your infinite faithfulness
that You will fulfill Your promise
and purpose in our life just as You
fulfilled all Your promises to Moses.
Not one of them failed and neither  
will Your promises to us. Amen.

God Gives Us Direction

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are
actually a single continuous story.
In 1 Samuel, the mood is despair;
in 2 Samuel, a ray of hope shines.
In 1Sam, Saul’s dynasty is destroyed;
in 2Sam,David’s dynasty secured.
But transition of power is not simple:
Proper mourning for departed king,
the inauguration of the new leader,
the purging of rebellious elements,
all these things must be done
before David can rule in peace.

Lord, we Seek Your Direction:
A man arrived fr Saul’s army camp…
Our entire army fled from the battle.
Many of the men are dead and Saul
and his son Jonathan are also dead.
David and his men tore their clothes
in sorrow when they heard the news.
They mourned and wept and fasted
all day for Saul… his son Jonathan
& for the Lord’s army (2S1:1-4,11-12)
David inquired of the Lord: Shall
I go to any of the cities of Judah?
The Lord said:Go up. David asked
Where? And He said: To Hebron.
So David went up there. Then
the men of Judah anointed David
king of Judah. And they told David:
The men of Jabesh Gilead buried
Saul. So David sent messengers
to Jabesh Gilead and said:
l’ll repay this kindness (2Sam 2:1-6).
The war betw the house of Saul and
the hse of David lasted a long time.
David grew stronger and stronger,
while the house of Saul grew
weaker and weaker (2 Sam 3:1).

Lord, we see David’s loyalty to
Your purpose as he mourned for
Saul who was the Lord’s anointed.
And because David trusted You God,
he would not rejoice in Saul’s death.
Give us Lord greater passion
for Your will and purpose rather
than our ambition and interest.
In Jesus ‘ precious name, Amen.

Lord, praise You for Your faithfulness
and we are inspired by David on
his dependence on You for success.
Prompt us Lord to Inquire of Your
will for guidance in the way to go.
When we don’t quite understand
why You move so slowly at times,
grant us sufficient signs to trust
that Your promises will be fulfilled.
Help us focus on Your purpose and
help us wait on Your timing. Amen.

Lord, we note that when Saul died,
David did not rush to make himself
the king of Israel. Help us Lord
not to assume that we know
what is best but seek wisdom
in Your Word and Your Spirit.
Help us Lord to inquire of You,
follow Your direction, and wait
patiently for Your promises to be
fulfilled for we trust in You. Amen.

Hearing God thru His Word

The purpose of 2nd Samuel is
to record the history of David’s
reign; to demonstrate effective
leadership under God; to show
the qualities that please God;
to depict David as an ideal leader
of an imperfect kingdom and to
foreshadow Christ, who will be the
ideal leader of a perfect kingdom.

On Monday, we learn fr 2 Sam 1/2
that God Gives the Direction.
On Tue, we learn from 2Sam 5/7
to Do God’s Will In His Terms.
On Wed, we learn from 2Sam 8-10
to Coperate with God To Succeed.
On Thu, we learn from 2Sam 12
that God Sends Someone to Tell.
On Friday, we learn fr 2Sam 15 that
God Cares about our Challenges.
On Sat, we learn from 2Sam 22
that God Secures & Strengthens.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Hear You:
For God Gives us Direction and
You Send Someone to Tell us;
For Cooperate with God to succeed
and to Do God’s Will in His Terms;
For God Cares for our Challenges
and that He Secures & Strengthens.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Secures & Strengthens


The last four chapters of 2 Samuel
form an appendix to the main
body of the book and includes
a beautiful psalm of deliverance,
a listing of David’s mighty men
of valour, a sinful census and the
severe punishment that followed.
The closing paragraph of the book
portrays David in his natural posture:
worshipping the Lord in humility.

Lord, You will make me Secure:
Lord, we Praise You for being
Our Strength and Our Rock:
For who is God except the Lord?
And who is a rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with
strength & keep my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet
of a deer; he causes me to stand
on the heights (2 Sam 22:32-34).
Blessed be The Rock of my
salvation! He delivers me
and lifts me up above those
who rise against me (v47-48).
He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those
who rise against me… Therefore
I will give thanks to You, O Lord &
sing praises to Your name (v49-50).

Lord, some challenges we face
in life can make us feel insecure.
Our fears tell us that if we take a
wrong step, we’ll fall into danger.
David used the feet of the nimble
deer as a reminder of the strength
and assurance God provides.
Lord, in Your grace exchange our
slippery feet for the deerlike
feet of the overcomer. And we
will give You all the glory. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Your offer
to arm us with strength and
offer to help us stand Secure.
l crave for these Your assurances
and appropriate them by faith.
Please put a spring in my step
like the deer as I follow where
You lead and do what I may think
is impossible. For apart from You
God, I can do nothing; but with God nothing is impossible.Amen

Lord, thank You for providing
stability and for being our rock,
and the God of our salvation.I may
enter each day with the intention
to trust in Your great power.
Yet when the winds blow and
the waves rise, I may forget to
look at You. Forgive me each time
I have not sought refuge in You.
As my rock, be my stability when
things are not stable. Help me focus on You my solid rock! Amen.

God Cares about our Challenges

Today’s reading describes the
fulfilment of Nathan’s prophetic
judgment on David. While his own
transgression was done in secret,
the shame & murder within his own
family circle would be done before
all Israel. But the greatest headache
would be the rebellious attempt by
Absalom to usurp his father’s throne
David’s faith in God never diminish,
though severely tested. Driven from
Jerusalem and disgraced by his son,
David is restored eventually, though
at heavy personal and national cost.

Lord, we Entrust our future to You:
(Absalom) got up every morning
and went out to the gate of the city.
When people brought a case to the
king for judgment, Absalom would
ask where in Israel they were from,
and they would tell him their tribe.
Then Absalom would say: You’ve
really got a strong case here! It’s
too bad the king doesn’t hv anyone
to hear it. I wish I were the judge.
Absalom did this with everyone
who came to the king for judgment,
and so he stole the hearts of all
the people of Israel (2 Sam 15:2-6).
A messenger came and told David:
The hearts of the men of Israel
are with Absalom. Then David
said to all his officials… Come!
We must flee, or none of us will
escape from Absalom (v13-14).
They set down the ark of God
and Abiathar offered sacrifices…
Then the king said to Zadok: Take
the ark of God back into the city.
If I find favour in the Lord’s eyes,
He will bring me back. But if He
says: I am not pleased with you…
let Him do to me whatever
seems good to Him (v24-26).

Lord, all scripture is profitable
for instruction in righteousness;
including obscure passages related
to the judgment on King David.
Help us Lord to do the right thing
in difficult & challenging situations.
Help us to entrust our future to You
help us to be Guided by Your Law.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord of Justice, we realize that
there is much pressure to conform
to the world in its ways and values.
Rather than trying to be popular,
guide our life Lord by the moral
principles given in God’s Word.
For You who never change will stand
for justice, You know the ways of
evil men & know what is best for us.
We entrust our future to You. Amen.

Lord, let us follow the example of
David when life’s broken & dreams
shattered, he still worshipped You.
Help us when the future is uncertain
to entrust ourselves to Your hands.
Help us to trust that when we
protect Your honour and seek
Your kingdom and righteousness,
You will provide all that we need.
Help us to depend solely on You for
deliverance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God Uses Someone to Tell You

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 & Receives Forgiveness.

Lord, we Seek Your Forgiveness:
The Lord sent Nathan to David…
David’s anger was greatly aroused…
and he said to Nathan: the man
who has done this shall surely die!
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: 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).
But because by this deed you have
made the enemies of the Lord show
utter contempt, the son born to you
shall surely die… David therefore
pleaded with God for the child, and
David fasted & lay all night on the
ground… Then on the seventh day…
the child died… So David arose from
the ground, washed and anointed
himself, and changed his clothes;
and went into the house of the Lord
& worshiped. Then he ate (v14-20).

Lord, grateful for Your tender
 mercies and forgiving spirit. You
put away David’s sin & spare his life
despite serious transgressions
including adultery, false witness,
abusing of power and murder.
We purpose that when we fall
into sin, that we will not hide
but come to You in repentance
that we may receive mercy. Amen.

Gracious Lord, have mercy upon
me; blot out my transgressions;
and cleanse me from my sin. For
I acknowledge my transgressions
and my sin is always before me.
Against You have I sinned & done
this unrighteousness in Your sight.
Create in me a clean heart O God
& renew steadfast spirit within me.
And restore to me the joy of Your
salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, here is an instance where
You denied a prayer in wisdom.
David’s request for the child of
his shame was denied in mercy
and judgment, for the child would
have been a perpetual reminder
of his sin. When the child was dead,
David humbled himself under the
presence of a holy God, and rested
grateful with His grace for him.Amen

Cooperate with God To Succeed

Once the internal opposition against
his rule has been silenced, David
is free to secure his new kingdom
against foreign invasion. In quick
succession the Moabites, Syrians,
Edomites and Ammonites fall to
David’s troops, causing the other
neighbouring powers to surrender
without a fight. Extensive new
territories are added to David’s
kingdom. But David nurses no
spirit of revenge, as evidence in
his dealings with Mephibosheth.

Lord, we’ll Show Justice & Kindness:
And David made himself a name
when he returned from killing 18,000
Syrians… Throughout all Edom
he put garrisons… And the Lord
preserved David wherever he went.
So David reigned over all Israel; and
David administered judgment and
justice to all his pple(2Sam8:13-15)
One day David began wondering
if anyone in Saul’s family was
still alive, for he had promised
Jonathan that he would show
kindness to them. He summoned
Ziba, who had been Saul’s servant…
The king asked Ziba: Is anyone still
alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want
to show God’s kindness(2Sam 9:1-3)
When Joab saw that he would have
to fight on both the front & the rear,
he Choose Some Israel’s elite troops
and placed them under his personal
command to fight the Arameans…
He Left The Rest of the army under
the command of his brother Abishai,
who was to attack the Ammonites.
Joab told his brother: if Arameans
are too strong for me,come help me.
And if the Ammonites are too strong
for you, I will come and help you…
Let Us Fight bravely for our people
and the cities of our God. May the
Lord’s Will Be Done (2 Sam 10:9-12)

Lord, You are a just God and You
want us to show justice to everyone
like what David did in his country.
Help us Lord when we are
placed in a leadership position,
that we will be fair to everyone.
Help us not show favouritism to
people who have similar opinions
or similar backgrounds to ourselves.
Help us to defend and care for
especially the disadvantaged, the
weak and the downtrodden. Amen.

Lord, bring to my remembrance
people I have forgotten and those
You want me to show kindness.
Help me be generous to others;
for one kind act can lift up a
person and strengthen his faith.
When I make a commitment to
someone, help me fulfil it quickly
so that I don’t forget to do it.
Remind me Lord that You never
fail to fulfil Your promises. Amen.

Lord, we need to keep our actions
and our faith in You God in balance.
For we know that You expect us to
use our minds and muscles even
while we depend on You for help.
Help us learn on the fair sharing
of resources in doing Your work.
We purpose to obey God, trusting
You for the outcome; and we
aspire to live by Your Word. Amen.

Do God’s Will In His Terms

With the death of Ish-Bosheth,
the people of Israel transfer their
allegiance to David as their rightful
king. As his first official act, David
conquers the strategic Jebusite
stronghold of Jerusalem and makes
it the new capital of the nation.
But something more than political
and military reform is necessary.
The worship of God must be
returned to its place of primacy.
Knowing this, David makes plans
to bring the ark of the covenant
to Jerusalem and build a fitting
place for it to reside. In the process,
he learns some hard lessons about
doing God’s Will in God’s Way and
in God’s Timing. Amen and amen.

Lord, we’ll Follow Your Direction:
David inquired of the Lord: Shall
I go up against the Philistines?
And the Lord said: Go up for I’ll
doubtless deliver the Philistines
into your hand. So David went to
Baal Perazim and defeated them…
Then the Philistines went up once
again and deployed themselves
in the valley of Rephaim. So David
inquired of the Lord and He said:
You shall Not Go Up; circle around
Behind them. And David Did As the
Lord commanded him & he drove
back the Philistines (2S5:19-25).
Lord, we’ll Accede to Your Will:
Go tell my servant David: Are u the
one to build me a house to dwell in?
When your days are over… I will raise
up your offspring to succeed you
and I will establish his kingdom.
He is the one who will build a house
for my Name, and I will establish…
his kingdom forever (2Sam 7:5-13)

Lord, I don’t want to make any
decision without Your leading.
You care about the details of
my life and want to guide me in
the way I should go. Take away
my peace if I should decide to
step off the path of Your greatest
blessing for my life. Help me to
never stray from Your will. Amen.

Lord, I trust You and accept Your
answers to my prayers, even when
the answers is not what I want.
Help me to understand Your will,
especially when the answers to my
prayers are not what I expect to be.
I am grateful You know what is best
for me; and You will not allow me to
seek after things I shouldn’t. Amen.

Lord, praise You for Your faithfulness
and we are inspired by David on
his dependence on You for success.
Help us Follow Your Instructions
and not stray from Your will.
Help us Accept Your answer
to our prayers even when the
answers is not what we want,
for You know what is best for us.
Help us to Delight in Worshipping,
remembering what You’ve done.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Gives Direction (Mar 17)

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are
actually a single continuous story.
In 1 Samuel, the mood is despair;
in 2 Samuel, a ray of hope shines.
In 1Sam, Saul’s dynasty is destroyed;
in 2Sam,David’s dynasty secured.
But transition of power is not simple:
Proper mourning for departed king,
the inauguration of the new leader,
the purging of rebellious elements,
all these things must be done
before David can rule in peace.

Lord, we Seek Your Direction:
A man arrived fr Saul’s army camp…
Our entire army fled from the battle.
Many of the men are dead and Saul
and his son Jonathan are also dead.
David and his men tore their clothes
in sorrow when they heard the news.
They mourned and wept and fasted
all day for Saul… his son Jonathan
& for the Lord’s army (2S1:1-4,11-12)
David inquired of the Lord: Shall
I go to any of the cities of Judah?
The Lord said:Go up. David asked
Where? And He said: To Hebron.
So David went up there. Then
the men of Judah anointed David
king of Judah. And they told David:
The men of Jabesh Gilead buried
Saul. So David sent messengers
to Jabesh Gilead and said:
l’ll repay this kindness (2Sam 2:1-6).
The war betw the house of Saul and
the hse of David lasted a long time.
David grew stronger and stronger,
while the house of Saul grew
weaker and weaker (2 Sam 3:1).

Lord, we see David’s loyalty to
Your purpose as he mourned for
Saul who was the Lord’s anointed.
And because David trusted You God,
he would not rejoice in Saul’s death.
Give us Lord greater passion
for Your will and purpose rather
than our ambition and interest.
In Jesus ‘ precious name, Amen.

Lord, praise You for Your faithfulness
and we are inspired by David on
his dependence on You for success.
Prompt us Lord to Inquire of Your
will for guidance in the way to go.
When we don’t quite understand
why You move so slowly at times,
grant us sufficient signs to trust
that Your promises will be fulfilled.
Help us focus on Your purpose and
help us wait on Your timing. Amen.

Lord, we note that when Saul died,
David did not rush to make himself
the king of Israel. Help us Lord
not to assume that we know
what is best but seek wisdom
in Your Word and Your Spirit.
Help us Lord to inquire of You,
follow Your direction, and wait
patiently for Your promises to be
fulfilled for we trust in You. Amen.