PrayerThots Devotional

God Loves Impossible Odds

Backgrounder on Judges 6-8:
Gideon, Israel’s fifth judge, receives
severe God’s call while hiding in a wine-
press secretly threshing wheat.
Midian’s oppression is indeed
and Gideon is God’s man
to lead the people in throwing off
that yoke of bondage – a task
Gideon is not anxious to accept!
But once convinced of his calling
through two miraculous signs,
Gideon leads a humble army of
300 men, equipped only with
torches and trumpets, in a stunning
victory against the mighty Midianite
forces. Israel’s weapons and
unusual battle plan leave no room
for doubt: The victory is the Lord’s.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 8)”

The Mighty One Is For Us

Backgrounder on Josh 22-24:
After being commended for their
faithful service in conquering
the land of Canaan, the warriors
of the tribes east of Jordan are
sent home. They recognise that
the Jordan River (which forms a
natural barrier between the tribes)
may one day form a spiritual
barrier as well. To prevent this,
a memorial altar is built on the
riverbank. The book closes with
Joshua’s final address in which
he gives the people an altimatum:
Choose you this day whom ye will
serve… as for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord (J24:15).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 7)”

Obedience Brings Victory

Backgrounder to Joshua 6-8:
Joshua employs a textbook
strategy for military victory:
Divide and conquer. He attacks
the middle of the country first,
dividing the enemy forces in half,
before mopping up resistance
among the isolated troops in the
south and north. His stunning
victory at Jericho shows the
importance of following God’s
direction down to the smallest
detail, no matter how trivial
they seem to be, proving
Obedience Brings Victory.

Lord, we’ll Obey Your Instructions:
The Lord said to Joshua:
I have given You Jericho, its
king and all its strong warriors.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 6)”

God’s Deeds Build Faith

Backgrounder to Joshua 1-5:
Moses has died and Joshua is
appointed by God to take over
the reins of leadership. The people
are poised within view of the land
promised to their ancestors and
denied their unbelieving patents.
The task seems impossible:
a turbulent river to cross and
mighty walled cities to conquer.
So God begins to prepare His
people for days of warfare ahead.
He reminds Joshua that careful
attention to His Word brings
blessing and success.

Lord, we Remember Your Deeds:
Joshua said to the Israelites:
In the future your children will ask
What do these stones mean?
Then you can tell them: This is
where the Israelites crossed
the Jordan on dry ground.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 5)”

God’s Presence Gives Courage

Backgrounder to Joshua 1-5:
Moses has died and Joshua is
appointed by God to take over
the reins of leadership. The people
are poised within view of the land
promised to their ancestors and
denied their unbelieving patents.
The time has come to cross over,
conquer and possess! But will
they succeed where their fathers
failed? The task seems impossible:
a turbulent river to ford and mighty
walled cities to conquer. So God
begins to prepare His people
for the days of warfare ahead.

Lord,Your Presence Gives Courage:
No man shall be able to stand
before you… as I was with Moses,
so I will be with you. I will not
leave you nor forsake you.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Dec 4)”

Coming Hope for Israel
(Prayer Walk thro Joel)

Backgrounder: Addressing hearts
that have grown cold to the things
of God, Joel confronts the people
of Judah. He reminds them of
the recent destruction brought
by a plague of locusts. Yet that
disaster, a judgment in itself, will
seem pale beside the catastrophe
still to come. Unless the nation
repents, it will be destroyed
by an army from the north.
The only hope of escape is for
the people to repent. If they do,
then God will divert judgment
and will deliver an unparalleled
blessing – judgment on all Judah’s
enemies and the matchless
gift of peace to Zion !!

Dear Lord, You are in control, with
justice & restoration in your hands.
Thank You for your gracious
patience and that you want to
bless us rather than discipline us.
We purpose to be Faithful to You
by Repenting when we sin and
Aligning ourselves to your
thoughts and your ways. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Joel (Dec 3)”

God Protects His People
(Prayer Walk thro Obadiah)

Backgrounder: Obadiah is given
the unenviable task of confronting
two members of a feuding family.
The Jews in Judah (descendants
of Jacob) and the Edomites
(descendants of Esau) were blood
brothers but with little visible love
between them. When the enemies
of Judah attacked the capital city
of Jerusalem, the Edomites rushed
in to help the enemy! As a result,
God sends Obadiah to predict
doom for the nation for refusing
to be its “brother keeper.”

Dear Almighty God who is
in control and on our side.
Help us Not to Be Proud,
help us to Help Others in need;
and Protect us from harm. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Obadiah (Dec 2)”