PrayerThots Devotional

God Provides for His Servants

Backgrounder on 1 Kings 15-19:
From 1 Kings 25 onwards show
the two nations of Israel & Judah
in spiritual decline. Prophet Elijah
courageously faces a heathen
Israelite king and 850 pagan
prophets of Baal, only to flee
for his life from Queen Jezebel.

Lord, U Provide for your servants:
Then the Lord came to Elijah
saying: Hide by the Brook, which
flow into the Jordan. You shall drink
from the brook & I’ve commanded
the ravens to feed you there…
Widow did as Elijah said. And she,
her son & Elijah continued to eat
from her supply of flour and oil
for many days. For no matter how
much they used, there was always
enough left in the containers,
just as the Lord had promised
through Elijah (1K17:3-4, 15-16).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 19)”

God Fulfills His Declared Plan

Backgrounder on 1 Kings 5-8:
Before his death, David had
charged his son Solomon with the
responsibility of building a house
for God in Jerusalem. Now at last
it is time to make that dream a
reality. For 7 years Solomon plans &
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, You God Fulfils Your Plan:
It came to pass when the priests
came out of the holy place, that the
cloud filled the house of the Lord…
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
as He was with our ancestors;
may He never forsake us.
May He give us the desire to do
His will in everything and to obey
all the commands…that He gave
our ancestors (1Kings 8:10,56-58)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 18)”

Guard Against Complacency
(Prayer Walk thro Amos 1-9)

Backgrounder: Externally the
northern kingdom was marked
by flourishing business. But
internally the nation’s condition
was grim. Idolatry, injustice, greed,
hypocrisy & arrogance indicated
deep-seated sin. Amos makes
God’s message crystal clear
to those who had grown lax in
luxurious living: Repent or Perish.
The storm clouds of judgment are
soon to break over God’s people.

Dear Lord, Your are holy and you
require truth, goodness, justice
& righteousness from yr people.
Help us to be open to Your Word:;
Help us Live in the Truth and
Help us Care for Others. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Amos (Dec 17)”

The Greatest Fish Story
(Prayer Walk thro Jonah 1-4)

Backgrounder: Consider the story
of Jonah, a prophet commissioned
by God to preach an ultimatum
to Israel’s archenemy Assyria.
Jonah quickly goes AWOL and
finds a ship headed in the opposite
direction. God sends a storm, then
a hungry fish, to turn Jonah around
and head him back toward Nineveh
After delivering his one-sentence
sermon, Jonah watches helplessly
as the entire city of Nineveh
repents in sackcloth and ashes.
When God spares Israel’s enemies,
it takes a hot wind, a shade-giving
vine and a hungry grub to teach
Jonah a lesson about the mercy
of God for sinful mankind.

Dear Lord, we acknowledge Your
sovereignty and You’re In Control.
We will Pray for Deliverance;
we will Deliver Your Message and
we will Be Compassionate. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Jonah (Dec 16)”

God Will Make You Secure

Backgrounder on 2 Samuel 21-24:
The last four chapters of 2Samuel
form an appendix to the main
body of the book and includes
a beautiful psalm of deliverance,
a list of David’s mighty men of
valour and David worshipping
the Lord in humility.

Lord, You will make me Secure:
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 22:33-34).
Blessed be The Rock of my
salvation! He delivers me and
lifts me up above those who rise
against me (2 Sam 22:47-48).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 15)”

God of My Strength

Backgrounder on 1 Samuel 27-31:
After months of running for his life,
David concludes that leaving Israel
entirely is the only way to escape
Saul’s relentless pursuit. By
convincing the Philistines he is
a true defector, David is given
the city of Ziglapg as his base
of operations. But instead of
aiding the enemy, David and
his army methodically destroy
Philistines strongholds.

Lord, You’re God of My Strength:
Now David was greatly distressed
for the people spoke of stoning
him because the soul of all the
people was grieved, every man
for his sons and daughters.
But David strengthen himself
in the Lord his God (1Sam 30:6).
God is my strong fortress; and
He makes me as surefooted as a
deer, leading me safely along the
mountain heights(2Sam 22:33-34)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 14)”

God Delivers Faithful from Shame

Backgrounder on 1 Samuel 20-23:
David, the king-elect of Israel –
anointed, approved in battle and
awaiting the inauguration of his
reign, is fleeing for his life from
the deranged Saul, the king-
rejected. Saul’s pursuit drives
David to desperate measures
such as eating the forbidden
shewbread at Nob and feigning
insanity at Gath. But scripture
records that David’s confidence
in God never slackens, as frequent
petitions to God for direction
and protection clearly testify.

Lord, we put our Trust in You:
So David escaped from Saul
and went to King Achish of Gath.
But Arhish’s officers weren’t
happy about his being there. Isn’t
this David, the king of the land?
they asked. Isn’t he the one the
people honor with dances singing:
Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands?
David heard these commends
and was afraid of what King Ashish
might do to him. So he pretended
to be insane, scratching on doors
& drooling his beard. King Ashish
said to his men: Must you bring
me a madman? (1 Sam 21:10-14).
I sought the Lord and He heard me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant;
their faces are never covered
with shame (Psalm 34:4-5).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 13)”

Our Mighty Helper

Backgrounder on 1 Samuel 5-7:
When faith in God wavers, faith
in man-made objects increases.
The people of Israel carry the
ark of the covenant into battle,
confident that its presence will
ensure victory over the Philistines.
Instead they suffer a shattering
defeat in which 30,000 lives were
lost and the ark of covenant is
captured. Upon hearing the news
Eli falls back and breaks his neck.
It remains for Samuel to assume
the reins of leadership and guide
the people back to repentance.

Lord, You are our Mighty Helper:
Samuel said to all of Israel:
If you are really serious about
wanting to return to the Lord,
get rid of your foreign gods…
So Samuel took a young lamb and
offered it to the Lord. He pleaded
with the Lord to help Israel & the
Lord answered. Just as Samuel
was sacrificing the burnt offering,
the Philistines arrived for battle.
But the Lord spoke with a mighty
voice of thunder from heaven and
Philistines were thrown into such
confusion that the Israelites
defeated them…Samuel then took
a large stone and placed it between
the towns of Mizpah and Shen.
He named it Ebenezer (stone of
help) saying thus far the Lord
has helped us (1 Sam 7:3, 9-12).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 12)”

God Cares About You

Backgrounder on 1 Samuel:1-3:
The period of the judges is nearly
at an end. One last judge remains:
Samuel, a man of godly character
and integrity who will guide the
nation from judgeship to kinship.
Samuel is the offspring of barren
woman and the answer to fervent
prayer. And he is consecrated
to the Lord’s service from birth.

Lord, we cast our cares for U Care:
As she continued praying before
the Lord, that Eli watched her
mouth. Now Hannah spoke in
her heart; only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard.
So Eli thought she was drunk…
But Hannah answered: No my lord,
I am a woman of sorrowful spirit.
I have drunk neither wine nor
intoxicating drink but have poured
out my soul before the Lord…
Then Eli answered: Go in peace
and the God of Israel grant your
petition which you have asked
of Him. And she said: Let your
maidservant find favour in your
sight. So the woman went her
way and ate, and her face was
no longer sad (1 Sam 1:12-18).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 11)”