Imploring God thro His Promises:

Significance Reinstated (Mar 17)

Dear Friends,
We have completed four months
of devotion on God’s Promises,
following three earlier series on
Adoring God thro Thanksgiving,
Knowing God’s thro His Names
and Praising God thro Hymns.
Before continuing in the series,
let’s pause to note the significance
of Imploring God on His Promises.

There are so much to pray about:
our dreams, hopes and plans.
But often we are held up by our
own doubts: Does God really
care about this request of ours?
How assuring to pray back to God
the promises found in His Word.
Then we no longer wonder if this
is something God cares about,for
He brought it up in the 1st place.
Continue reading “Imploring God thro His Promises:”

Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 16)

God Promises Wonderful Future

Backgrounder on Proverbs 22-24:
The final 11 chapters of Proverbs
contains sound counsel for those
in positions of authority. And
these three chapters contain
wise counsel for anyone in
a position of responsibility
including parents and pastors.
Leaders need to know God’s
precepts if they are to direct
their charges into God-honouring
paths of conduct and character.

Lord, U promise Wonderful Future:
Do not let your heart envy sinners
but always be zealous for the fear
of the Lord. There is surely a future
hope for you, and your hope will
not be cut off (Prov 23:17-18).
Be wise and guide your heart in
the way… Buy the truth & do not
sell it; get wisdom, discipline and
understanding (v19 & 23). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 16)”

Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 15)

God Who Directs Your Plans

Backgrounder on Proverbs 14-17:
Nowhere is wisdom more essential
than in community relationships.
A heart attitude controlled by
the fear of the Lord is the key to
proper response towards others.
To promote peace with others,
commit to godliness in motives
and thots, tongue & temper as
well as plans, paths and pursuits.

Lord, You will Direct our Plans:
Commit to the Lord whatever
you do, and He will establish
your plans (Prov 16:3).
He who heeds the word wisely
will find good, and whoever trusts
in the Lord, happy is he (v20).
We may throw the dice but the Lord
determines how they fall (v33).
Kind words are like honey, sweet to
the soul & healthy for the body (24)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 15)”

Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 14)

God Hears Prayers of Righteous

Backgrounder on Proverbs 14-17:
Nowhere is wisdom more essential
than in community relationships.
A heart attitude controlled by
the fear of the Lord is the key to
proper response towards others.
To promote peace, justice and
prosperity with others, commit to
godliness, in thoughts & motives,
as well as tongue and temper.

Lord, U Hear Prayers of Righteous:
The Lord detest the sacrifice of
the wicked, but the prayer of the
upright pleases Him (Prov 15:8).
… For the happy heart, life
is a continual feast (v15).
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but
with advisors they succeed (v22).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 14)”

Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 13)

God Rewards Who Seek & Wait

Backgrounder on Proverbs 5-9:
The first 9 chapters of Proverbs
take the form of a fatherly address
for learning the fear of the Lord.
Beginning with Chap 5, Solomon
turns from a general appeal
to more specific application of
wisdom in everyday situations.
Pitfalls abound, ready to entangle
and destroy the unwary: immorality,
indebtedness, laziness, falsehood
and pride. Indulging in these sins
is a sure invitation to disaster.
Rather respond to call of wisdom,
which among its many benefits
is the favor of the Lord (Prov 8:35).

Lord, U Reward who Seek & Wait:
I love all who love me. Those who
Search will surely find me (P8:17)
(Wisdom said) I have riches and
honour as well as enduring wealth.
My gifts are better than gold,
even the purest gold, my wages
better than sterling silver (v18-19).
Blessed is the man who listens
to Me, watching daily at my doors,
Waiting at my doorway (v34) Amen
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 13)”

Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 12)

God Directs You As You Seek Him

Backgrounder on Proverbs 1-4:
The author of Proverbs clearly
states the book’s purpose:
To know wisdom & instructions
(P1:2-5). God wants His people
to be wise (skilful) in making
moral and ethical choices. And
the first nine chapters of Proverbs
take the form of a fatherly address
to a young son – a divine primer
for learning the fear of the Lord.

Lord, U Direct as We Seek You:
Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall
Direct Your Paths (Prov 3:5-6).
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord & depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
and strength to your bones (v7-8)
Honour the Lord with your wealth,
then your barns will Be Filled
to overflowing (v9-10). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 12)”

Praying thro Ezekiel (Mar 11)

God Gives Message of Hope:
(Prayer Walk thro Ezek 33-48)

Backgrounder: After the fall of
Jerusalem, Ezekiel delivered
messages of future restoration
(restoring the people of God &
restoring the Worship of God)
and Hope for the people. God is
holy but the temple had been
defiled. The nation had to be
cleansed thro 70 years of captivity.
Thus Ezekiel gives a vivid picture of
the unchangeable holiness of God.

Dear Lord, thank you for Your
message of restoration and Hope.
Even as we face struggles of life,
help us Lord to gain a vision of
the glory of God & a fresh sense
of Your holiness and greatness.
Even as we Turn from sins to U;
Enable us Move in the Spirit &
Revive our Dreams. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Ezekiel (Mar 11)”

Praying thro Ezekiel (Mar 10)

God Restores You thro New Heart,
Fresh Start & Freedom from Sin
(Prayer Walk thro Ezek 1-24)

Backgrounder: While Jeremiah
was prophesying in Jerusalem
that the city would soon fall to
the Babylonians, Ezekiel was giving
the same message to the captives
who were already in Babylon.
Like those in Jerusalem, the
captives stubbornly believed that
Jerusalem would not fall. Ezekiel
warned them that punishment was
certain because of their sins and
that God was purifying his people.
He also brings a message of hope.

Lord, even as You announced
through Ezekiel, Your judgment on
Israel and other nations, You also
foretell the eventual restoration
of God’s people. We are grateful
for your mercy & lovingkindness;
that U Free us from Burden of Sin;
that U Give us Undivided Heart; &
that U Promise Fresh Start. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Ezekiel (Mar 10)”

Preview on Ezekiel (Mar 10)

We have been covering the Bible
by time sequence, phase by phase
OT1: Five Books of Laws incl Job.
OT2: History Up to King David
from Joshua to 1 Chron + Psalms
as well as Reign of King Solomon
in 2nd Chron & Wisdom Poetry.

In OT Phase 3, we see decline
of the two Divided Kingdoms.
OT3A: 1 Kings, Obadiah & Joel
OT3B: 2K1-17 & Ministry of Jonah,
Amos, Hosea, Micah & Isaiah in run
up to Israel’s Dispersion in 722BC.
OT3C: 2 Kings 18-25 as well as
Nahum, Zephaniah & Habakkuk
& ministry of Jeremiah in run up
to Judah’s Dispersion (605/586BC)
Followed by Daniel.
Continue reading “Preview on Ezekiel (Mar 10)”

Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 9)

God the Promise Keeper

Backgrounder on Psalms 146-150:
Like the dramatic crescendo of
a symphony, the book of Psalms
builds to a climax of Praise.
Praise God from one generation
to the next (P146); praise God
for His tender care (P147);
praise God for his creation (P148);
praise God for His justice (P149);
praise God for His greatness (P150)
Praise the Praiseworthy Lord!

Lord, U Keep Promise Forever:
I will praise the Lord as long as
I live. I will sing praises to my God
even with my dying breadth. Don’t
put your confidence in powerful
people; there is no help for you
there. When their breathing stops…
all their plans come to an end.
But happy are those who have
the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God
who made (the) earth; who Keeps
every Promise forever (Ps 146:2-6)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Mar 9)”