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)”
To boost understanding of the
context of each Biblical book,
we have been covering the Bible
by time sequence, phase by phase
For chronology sake, poetry books
were inserted to Israel history.
OT1: Five Books of Laws
including Poetry Book of Job
OT2A/B: History Up to King David
from Joshua to 1 Chron + Psalms
OT2C: Reign of King Solomon in
2nd Chronicles & Wisdom Poetry
In the Third Phase, Solomon’s
pagan wives turn his heart
away from godly worship. The
next century sees the decline
of the two nations, indifferent
to prophets, especially the
northern kingdom, with Israel
finally dispersed by the Assyrians.
For chronology sake, prophetic
books inserted to Israel history.
OT3A: 1 Kings: United & Divided
Kingdom and Obadiah & Joel
OT3B: 2K1-17: Israel Dispersion
and Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah. Continue reading “Praying thro Minor Prophets: Jonah, Amos, Hosea & Micah (Dec 16)”
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)”
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)”
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)”
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)”
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)”
Imploring God thro His Promises:
Significance Reinstated (Dec 11)
Dear Friends,
We have done 4 weeks into our
4th series of topical devotion on
Imploring God thro His Promises
following three earlier series on
Adoring God thro Thanksgiving,
Knowing God thro His Names
and Praising God thro Hymns.
Before we continue in the series,
let’s reconsider the significance
of Imploring God on His Promises.
We know the importance of prayer;
and there are so much to pray
about: dreams, hopes & plans.
But often we are held up by our
own doubts: Does God really
care about this request of ours?
How valuable then it is to pray
back to God the very promises
found in His Word. When we
speak God’s very words back
to Him, we no longer wonder
if this is something God cares
about, for He brought it up
in the very first place. Continue reading “Imploring God thro His Promises: Significance Reinstated (Dec 11)”
Jehu, Joash & Dispersion of Israel Worship God & No Other (Prayer Walk thro 2 Kings 9-17)
Backgrounder: Jehu, newly
anointed king of Israel, carried
out his instructions to smite the
house of Ahab that God may
avenge the blood of the prophets.
In the southern kingdom of Judah,
Athaliah usurps the throne and
seeks to secure her position
by killing all the royal offspring.
Only the infant Joash survives,
in time becomes one of the
greatest reforming kings of Judah.
Following the death of Elisha,
Israel’s downward’s spiral
accelerates. In spite of the able
rule of Jeroboam ll, the kings who
succeeds him lead the people
ever deeper into idolatry and
immorality. Not a single one of
the last nine monarchs looks to
God for direction. At last Assyria
captured and dispersed God’s
disobedient people and brought
the northern kingdom to an end.
Dear Lord, You want our undivided
worship and totally abhors idolatry.
We praise You for being In Control
of situations and Thank You
for Rescuing us Upon our Plea.
Help us to give you our Undivided
Heart and there will be no
other gods before You. Amen.
Lord, U are In Control of situations:
The young prophet poured the
oil over Jehu’s head and said:
This is what the Lord the God
of Israel says: I anoint you king
over the Lord’s people, Israel.
You are to destroy the family of
Ahab, your master. In this way,
I will avenge the murder of my
prophets & all the Lord’s servants
who were killed by Jezebel…
Dogs will eat Ahab’s wife Jezebel…
Jehu saw her at the window and
shouted: Who is on my side?
And two or three eunuchs looked
out at him. Throw her down!
Jehu yelled. So they threw her
out of the window… But when
they went out to bury her, they
found only her skull, her feet and
her hands (2Kings 9:6-10, 32-35)
Lord, Jezebel dishonourable death
shows You judges the unrepentant
wicked. It also shows we can
put our trust in You for You are
in control of situations. Amen.
Lord, You Rescue Upon Their Plea:
Jehoahaz did evil & made Israel sin.
Then the Lord delivered them into
the hand of the kings of Syria.
Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord
and the Lord heard his prayer.
The Lord could see how terribly
the king of Syria was oppressing
Israel. So the Lord raised up
a deliverer to rescue the Israelites
from the tyranny of the Syrians.
Then Israel lived in safety again
as in former days (2Kings 13:2-5)
Lord, we thank you that your ear
is opened to the cry of yr children
and that U will act on our behalf.
And we don’t have to hesitate to
cry out to U for help in our lives.
Thank you that you listen to my
prayers and that you answer not
according to my goodness but
according to your grace & mercy.
Help me not be discouraged
from coming to you in prayer
including my own sense that I’m
undeserving of Yr blessing. Amen
Lord, U expect Undivided Heart:
In the ninth year of King Hosea’s
reign, Samaria fell and the people
of Israel were exiled to Assyria.
The disaster came upon the nation
of Israel because the people
worshipped other gods, sinning
against the Lord their God… They
feared the Lord, yet they served
their own gods, according to the
rituals of the nations from among
whom they were carried away…
They do not fear the Lord,
nor do they follow the law and
commandment which the Lord
had commanded the children of
Jacob (2 Kings 17:6-7, 33-34).
Lord, keep us from ever having
a divided heart. I don’t want to
weaken my allegiance to You
by showing any allegiance to
the false gods of this world.
Help me to stay in close touch
with you through constant prayer.
And unite my heart with yours
so that it never strays. Amen.
Dear Lord, You want our undivided
worship and totally abhors idolatry.
We praise You for being In Control
of situations and Thank You
for Rescuing us Upon our Plea.
Help us to give you our Undivided
Heart even us we purpose there
will be no other gods before You.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
I will have no other gods before You
Only U will reign as my heart’s King
I will have no other gods before You
I will put You first in everything.
With all my heart,
With all my mind
With all my soul,
With all my strength
I worship You
Backgrounder: The downward
spiral begun in 1 Kings accelerates
as one bad king after another
accedes to the throne. Standing
in the path of this downward trend
are prophets who speak for God.
Elisha, the great miracle worker
of God, performs no fewer
than eight miracles: providing
an “oil well” for a destitute,
giving new life for a dead boy,
making poisoned stew harmless,
multiplying bread for hungry crowd,
curing a leprous army captain,
making an ax head defy gravity,
reading mind of an enemy king,
enabling servant to see angels of
God & closing eyes of the enemy.
In each case, God’s power at
work in the individual shows His
readiness to do the same in the
nation He has called His own.
Dear Lord, Elisha’s mighty miracles
showed that You God controls
events of everyday life. Help us
to listen, follow and obey You by
Thinking from Your Divine angle,
Adopting a Humble Attitude,
Looking from Eyes of Faith and
Sharing the Good News. Amen. Continue reading “Praying thro 2 Kings (Dec 9)”
