PrayerThots Devotional

God Who Answers Prayers

Backgrounder on Psalms 120-127:
These psalms deal with topics
dear to the heart of travellers
far from home: Peace (120, 122);
protection (121, 125, 127); and
provision (123, 124, 126). As you
read these “hymns of the highway”
imagine yourself on a long journey,
with your destination now in view.

Lord, You Answer Prayers:
I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to Him, and He
answered my prayer. Rescue
me O Lord from liars and from
all deceitful people (Ps 120:1-2).
I am tired of living among people
who hate peace. I search for
peace; but when I speak of
peace, they want war! (v6-7).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Feb 26)”

Waiting Upon God thro Hard Times
(Prayer Walk thro Hab 1-3)

Context: Looking around Judah,
Habakkuk observes injustice.
What he sees causes him to cry
out to God with his perplexing
questions: Why are the wicked
prospering? Why are the righteous
beaten down? Why don’t You do
something to right the wrongs ?
God’s reply is shocking: I’ll use a
nation more corrupt than Judah –
Chaldeans -to cleanse My people
of their wicked ways. In stunned
disbelief, Habakkuk responds:
How in the name of holiness can
You do that God? And when God
answers the prophet’s question,
Hab responds in prayer of faith.

Dear Lord, thank you for the book
of Habakkuk that shows You God
is still in control of this world in
spite of apparent triumph of evil.
During difficult circumstances,
You God wants us to come to You
with our struggles & even doubts.
And You will sustain us by revealing
yourself for our hope come from U.
Help us Lord to Keep On Praying;
Help us to Trust U by Waiting on U;
Help us Find Strength in U. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Habakkuk (Feb 25)”

The Day of the Lord
(Prayer Walk thro Zephaniah 1-3)

Backgrounder: Zephaniah’s pen
records only 53 verses but in
the process sets forth some
of the strongest statements of
judgment in the Old Testament.
Looking out over the nation of
Judah in particular and the world
in general, Zephaniah fashions
his fiery verbal assault. The day
of the Lord will come with fury,
ferocity and finality, and God will
have the last word. Retribution
and judgment will give way to
restoration and joy “in that day.”

Lord, thank you for lessons from
the ministry of Zephaniah to shake
pple of Judah out of complacency
and urge them to return to U God.
The people knew that God would
eventually bless them, but You
made it clear that there would be
judgment first, then the blessing.
The judgment would not be merely
punishment for sin, but also a
process of purifying your people.
Help us learn from this prophecy:
that we will Not be Complacent,
that we will Humble before You &
that we will Love You Fully. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Zephaniah (Feb 24)”

God’s Word Directs Your Path

Backgrounder on Psalm 119:
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm
and the longest chapter of the
longest book in the Bible. And
it provides the multifaceted Word
of God. Just as the psalm seems
to go on endlessly as you read its
176 verses, so let your praise and
love for God’s Word be endless
as you make it the focus of your
devotional time today & every day.

Lord, Your Word Directs Our Path:
Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might Not Sin against U.
Your Word is a lamp for my
feet and a Light for my Path…
You are my refuge and my shield; Your Word is my only Source
of Hope (Ps 119:11, 105 & 114).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Feb 23)”

God Brings You Through Trouble

Backgrounder on Psalms 111-118:
Praise permeates nearly every
line of these eight psalms. God is
praiseworthy for His care (P111),
His commandments (P112),
His name (P113), His power (P114)
His uniqueness (P115),
His Deliverance (P116), His truth
(P117) and His Mercy (P118).
What other response could there
be thankful to Praise the Lord.

Lord Almighty, You are For Me:
Give thanks to the Lord for He is
good & His Mercy endures forever.
In my distress I prayed to the
Lord and the Lord answered me
and rescued me. The Lord is
On My Side, I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do
to me? Yes, the Lord is For me;
He will help me (Ps 118:1, 5-7).
This is the day the Lord has made.
We’ll Rejoice & be glad in it (v24).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Feb 22)”

God Hears Your Prayers

Backgrounder on Psalms 111-118:
Praise permeates nearly every
line of these eight psalms. God is
praiseworthy for His care (P111),
His commandments (P112),
His name (P113), His power (P114)
His uniqueness (P115),
His Deliverance (P116), His truth
(P117) and His mercy (P118).
What other response could there
be thankful to Praise the Lord.

Lord, You Hear Our Prayers:
I love the Lord, for He Heard my
voice; He Heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me,
I will call on Him as long as I live…
The Lord is gracious & righteous;
our God is full of Compassion…
I believe in You, so I prayed, I am
deeply troubled (Ps 116:1-2, 5, 10)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Feb 21)”

God’s Faithfulness Is Dependable

Backgrounder on Psalms 107-110:
There is plenty to sing about
in these psalms. First is the song
of the Redeemed (P107), then
a song dedicated to the God of
Might & Glory (P108) and a song
of lament over the attacks of an
enemy (P109). But how can u sing
when the godless are seemingly
getting away with murder?
Remember the Lord is king (P110)

Lord, You are Mighty & Faithful:
I will awaken the dawn with song.
I will Praise You, O Lord, Among
the Peoples & I will sing praises
to You among the nations.
For Your mercy is great
above the heavens, and Your
Faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted O God above the
heavens, and your glory above
all the earth (Ps 108:2-5) Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Feb 20)”

God Helps His People

Backgrounder on Psalms 107-110:
There is plenty to sing about
in these selection of psalms.
First comes the song of the
Redeemed (P107), then a song
dedicated to the God of might
and glory (P108) and a song
of lament over the slanderous
attacks of an enemy (Ps 109).
But how can you sing when the
godless are seemingly getting
away with murder? Remember
with the psalmist David that
the Lord is king (Psalm 110).

Lord, You Help Your People:
Some wandered in the desert,
lost & homeless. Hungry & thirsty,
they nearly died. Lord, Help!
they Cried in their trouble and He
Rescued them from their distress…
Let them Praise the Lord for his
great love & for all his wonderful
deeds to them. For He satisfies
the longing soul, & fills the hungry
soul with goodness (Ps 107:4-9).
Whoever is wise will Observe these
things and they will understand
the faithful love of the Lord (v43).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Feb 19)”

No More Time to Delay
(Prayer Walk thro Nahum 1-3)

Backgrounder: To whom much
is given, much is also required.
Nineveh had been given the
privilege of knowing the one true
God. Under Jonah’s preaching
this great Gentile city had repented
and God had graciously stayed
His judgment. But now about
150 years later, Nahum proclaims
the downfall of once mighty
Nineveh. The Assyrians had
forgotten their revival and had
returned to their habits of violence,
idolatry and arrogance. As a result,
Babylon would so destroy the city
that no trace of it would remain,
a prophecy fulfilled in painful detail.

Dear Lord,from Nahum’s prophecy,
we learn anyone who remains
arrogant & rejects God’s authority
will face His anger. Yet those who
keep trusting God will be kept safe.
Knowing that U God are not only
Holy & Jealous, but also Good,
help us to relate to You Reverently
with Trust and Gratitude. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Nahum (Feb 18)”

Lessons from Surviving Kingdom
(Prayer Walk thro 2 Kings 18-25)

Backgrounder: The Northern
kingdom was destroyed, and
prophets were predicting the same
fate for Judah. What more could
cause the nation to repent?
Hezekiah & Josiah were able
to stem the tide of evil. They both
repaired the Temple and gathered
the people for the Passover.
Josiah eradicated idolatry from
the land, but as soon as these
good kings were gone, the people
returned again living their own way
instead of God’s way.

Dear Lord, thanks for the history
of the Surviving Kingdom that
reminds us that each individual
must believe and live for God.
And thanks for the record of
King Hezekiah that reminds us
of the importance of prayer.
Help us to Humble before You,
and Come to You in Prayer.
Lord, Remember and Heal us,
for You Recognise our cries. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro 2 Kings (Feb 17)”