PrayerThots Devotional

Return From Exile (Mar 31)

We have been covering the Bible
by time sequence, phase by phase
OT1: Five Books of Laws incl Job.
OT2: Israel History 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 & minor prophets.
OT3B: 2K1-17 & Prophets incl Isaiah
up to Israel’s Dispersion in 722BC.
OT3C: 2K18-25 & Prophets incl Jer
up to Judah’s Dispersion in 586BC.
Followed by Ezekiel & Daniel.
And then the return from exile,
namely Esther, Ezra & Nehemiah.

Continuing, we will meditate on
the last three prophetic books
of the Old Testament following
the return from exile. Listed below
are the background condition and
issues during that period of time.
Continue reading “Preview on Haggai, Zach & Malachi”

God’s Pte Phone Number for You:

Backgrounder on Jeremiah 30-33:
God pledges to reestablish Judah
after it has been purified by the
discipline of exile. As a sign of His
promise, He orders Jeremiah to
buy a field that would soon belong
to the conquering Babylonians.
That land would one day become
part of the restored nation to be
ruled by the Righteous Branch,
David’s Messianic descendant.

Lord, we want to Hear from You:
This is what the Lord says:
the Lord who made the earth,
who formed it and established it,
whose name is the Lord: Ask me
and I will tell you remarkable
secrets you do not know about
things to come (Jer 33:2-3).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 13)”

God Bigger Than Your Problems

Backgrounder on Jeremiah 30-33:
God pledges to reestablish the
nation after it has been purified
by the discipline of exile. As a sign
of His promise, He orders Jeremiah
to purchase a field that would
soon belong to the conquering
Babylonians. That land would
one day become part of the
restored nation to be ruled
by the Righteous Branch,
David’s Messianic descendant.

Lord, You are All Able & Mighty:
Now when I had delivered the
purchase deed to Baruch, I prayed
to the Lord saying; Ah Lord God!
Behold You have made the heavens
and the earth by Your great power
& outstretched arm. There is no-
thing too hard for U (Jer32:16-17)
Then the word of the Lord came
to Jeremiah saying: Behold, I’m the
Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there
anything too hard for Me (v26-27)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 12)”

God Promises Good Plans for You

Backgrounder on Jeremiah 26-29:
Jeremiah’s messages of judgment
arouse strong opposition in the
palace. During Jehoiakim’s reign,
Jeremiah is threatened with a death
sentence. While Zedekiah rules,
Jeremiah dons a wooden yoke
to portray the importance of
Jerusalem surrendering to the yoke
of Babylon & thereby arouses the
denunciation of the false prophet
Hananiah. In the midst of this
turmoil, Jeremiah sends the exiles
in Babylon an encouraging letter.

Lord, You have Good Plans For Us:
After 70 years are completed at
Babylon, I will visit you & perform
My Good Word toward you and
cause you to return to this place.
For I know the Plans I have for
you, declares the Lord, Plans to
prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope & a future.
Then you Will Call upon me and
come and Pray to me, and I will
listen to you. And you Will Seek Me
and find Me, when u Search for Me
with all your heart (Jer 29:10-13).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 11)”

God Blesses You & HEALS You

Backgrounder on Jeremiah 16-20:
Jeremiah himself becomes object
lesson to his nation, for his very
life models the reality of what is
soon to befall Judah. The prophet
is commanded to remain celibate
and avoids feast days – a daily
reminder to his countrymen
that they will soon experience
involuntarily what Jeremiah is
called to experience voluntarily.
Loss of family, comfort and joy
await God’s rebellious people.

Lord, U bless those who Cling to U:
Blessed is the one who Trusts
in the Lord, whose confidence
is in Him. They will be like a tree
planted by the water that sends
our its roots by the stream. It does
not fear when heat comes; its
leaves are always green. It has no
worries in a year of drought and
never fails to bear fruit (Jer 17:7-8)
Heal me O Lord & I will be Healed,
Save me and I shall be saved,
for You are my praise (v14) Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 10)”

God Wants to Show U Good Path

Backgrounder on Jeremiah 4-6:
These early chapters narrate
the coming Babylonian invasion
as God’s people experience the
deadly consequences of their
rebellion, pursuit of loathsome
activities and proud indulgence.

Lord,U Want to Show Us Good Path
This is what the Lord says: Stand
at the crossroads and look; ask for
the Ancient Paths, ask where the
Good Way is, Walk in it, and you
will Find Rest for yr souls (Jer 6:16)
But you said: We will not walk in it…
I’m bringing disaster on this people
because they have not listened to
My words (v17-19). To whom shall
I give warning? Behold the word
of the Lord is a reproach to them;
they have no delight in it. So I am
full of the fury of the Lord (v10-11)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 9)”

Significance Reinstated (Apr 8)

Dear Friends,
We have completed five 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”

Restoring our Worship of God
(Prayer Walk thro Malachi 1-4)

Backgrounder: Years after the
restoration from exile, the spiritual
conditn of God’s pple deteriorated
Again they lapsed into the same
sins that brought about captivity.
They tithe sporadically, ignore
the Sabbath and intermarry with
unbelievers. Their hearts have
grown hard and their love for God
has grown cold, yet Malachi comes
to remind the people of God’s love
for them. Malachi’ final warning
about the purifying Day of the Lord
marks the close of the OT period.

Dear Lord, thank you for lessons
from the book of Malachi on
neglecting the worship of God
and failing to live according to
Your will, especially for leaders.
Help us give U our best each day.
Help us to offer Living Sacrifice;
Help us to choose to Be Holy &
Help us to Be Givers. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Malachi (April 7)”

God Acts For Those Who Wait

Backgrounder on Isaiah 63-66:
In the light of the present calamity
and the coming glory, there can
only be one fitting response from
God’s people: repentance for
their pride and rebellion. The twin
themes that have dominated
Isaiah’s message- condemnation
and consolation appear again in
the concluding verses: The hand
of the Lord shall be known toward
his servants (consolation) and
His indignation towards His
enemies (condemnation) (66:14).

Lord, You Act for Those Who Wait:
O that you would burst from the
heavens and Come Down! How
the mountains would quake in
Your presence!.. When You Came
Down long ago, you did awesome
things beyond our highest expectations. For since ancient times no one has heard… no eye
has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those
Who Wait for Him (Isaiah 64:1-4).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 6)”

God Turns Ashes to Beauty

Backgrounder on Isaiah 58-62:
Isaiah catches a glimpse of the
Glorious Future awaiting the people
of God. A day is coming when
darkness will be swept away,
affliction will cease and the
glad tidings of salvation shall
be proclaimed throughout Zion.
God has not forsaken His people
& groaning has given way to glory.

Lord, You Turn Mourning to Joy:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…
to heal the brokenhearted…
to comfort all who mourn…
to give them Beauty for Ashes,
the oil of Joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness (Isa 61:1-3).
You will be called Ministers of God.
U shall eat riches of Gentiles (v6).
I am Overwhelmed With Joy
in the Lord my God! For He has
dressed me with the clothing of
salvation and draped me in a robe
of righteousness (v10). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 5)”