Aug 3 Your Word changes my heart

Oh Father.  Today in Your Word, I am told that while “the men did their work faithfully” at the orders of twenty-six year old King Josiah, they “found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.”  It had been lost, ignored throughout the eighteen years Josiah had been king, and during the reign of his evil father.

When it was brought before the young king, he heard the Word of the Law and his heart was responsive as he understood its meaning.  He humbled himself before You and sought Your will.

Lord, I wonder if today, Your Word has again gotten
“lost in the house of the Lord“?

The church is Your house, and it has Your Word, yet are we ignoring it?  Are we teaching it to our people?  Or do we pick and choose what we like and go on with our lives as we want?

Father, I pray that Your believers, Your church, will once again “hear” Your Word.  And that we would understand all that we read with a responsive heart.  Father, let us see where “they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”  And be humbled and change where we are not doing all You command.

I also understand that my body is Your “temple.”  

Don’t let Your Word be lost in me!

Open my ears to truly “hear” all that Your Word says.  Even the parts that may not sit easily with me.  Even the parts I wish I didn’t have to obey.

Make my heart responsive to what I hear from You.  Let me be like Josiah, and be humbled and weep before You when I see where I have not been obedient.

Show me how to live by Your Word, with a heart that is responsive to and humbled by what I have heard.  Amen

2 Chronicles 34:8-33

July 3 Your Word nourishes me

Father, at age 24, King Josiah read Your Words for the first time.  They affected him so profoundly that he wept and tore his robes.  He gave orders to the priests and others to bring the country’s worship practices in line with what You commanded.

He rid the nation of all remaining idolatry and led his people in worshiping the One True God.

O Lord, I pray that Your Word would still have that effect on people, and on me!

Let it be true in my life, that when I read Your Word, its meaning is clear to me, and I immediately obey what it says.

If I misunderstand, let me hear Your voice correcting me.

If I forget to obey, remind me.

And if I don’t want to obey, change my attitude.

As in the Psalm, make me like a tree planted by streams of water.  This is a tree that will always have the moisture it needs for its roots to go down deep into the soil and feed from the rich nutrients in the earth to make it strong.  Such a tree will not wither or loose its leaves, but will remain healthy and strong the whole year.

Let me grow in this manner so my faith will yield abundant and good fruit when the time is right: fruit that will glorify and bring honor to You.  Make me strong in my faith, able to withstand the heat, the cold, the wind and storms.  Bless my actions and my service to You with abundance.

Father, let me know Your Word so intimately it becomes my strength and my guide.  Let me speak boldly of my relationship with You to encourage others.  And let these things make me fruitful, like the tree, that brings about a bountiful harvest to honor You and nourish others.  Amen

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Psalm 1:1-3

Aug 3 Your Word changes my heart

Oh Father.  Today in Your Word, I am told that while “the men did their work faithfully” at the orders of twenty-six year old King Josiah, they “found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.”  It had been lost, ignored throughout the eighteen years Josiah had been king, and during the reign of his evil father.

When it was brought before the young king, he heard the Word of the Law and his heart was responsive as he understood its meaning.  He humbled himself before You and sought Your will.

Lord, I wonder if today, Your Word has again gotten

“lost in the house of the Lord“?

The church is Your house, and it has Your Word, yet are we ignoring it?  Are we teaching it to our people?  Or do we pick and choose what we like and go on with our lives as we want?

Father, I pray that Your believers, Your church, will once again “hear” Your Word.  And that we would understand all that we read with a responsive heart.  Father, let us see where “they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”  And be humbled and change where we are not doing all You command.

I also understand that my body is Your “temple.”  

Don’t let Your Word be lost in me!

Open my ears to truly “hear” all that Your Word says.  Even the parts that may not sit easily with me.  Even the parts I wish I didn’t have to obey.

Make my heart responsive to what I hear from You.  Let me be like Josiah, and be humbled and weep before You when I see where I have not been obedient.

Show me how to live by Your Word, with a heart that is responsive to and humbled by what I have heard.  Amen

2 Chronicles 34:8-33

July 3 Your Word nourishes me

Father, at age 24, King Josiah read Your Words for the first time.  They affected him so profoundly that he wept and tore his robes.  He gave orders to the priests and others to bring the country’s worship practices in line with what You commanded.

He rid the nation of all remaining idolatry and led his people in worshiping the One True God.

O Lord, I pray that Your Word would still have that effect on people, on me!

Let it be true in my life, that when I read Your Word, it’s meaning is clear to me, and I immediately obey what it says.  If I misunderstand, let me hear Your voice correcting me.  If I forget to obey, remind me.   And if I don’t want to obey, change my attitude.

As in the Psalm, make me like a tree planted by streams of water.  This is a tree that will always have the moisture it needs for its roots to go down deep into the soil and feed from the rich nutrients in the earth to make it strong.  Such a tree will not wither or loose its leaves, but will remain healthy and strong the whole year.

Let me grow in this manner so my faith will yield abundant and good fruit when the time is right: fruit that will glorify and bring honor to You.  Make me strong in my faith, able to withstand the heat, the cold, the wind and storms.  Bless my actions and my service to You with abundance.

Father, let me know Your Word so intimately it becomes my strength and my guide.  Let me speak boldly of my relationship with You to encourage others.  And let these things make me fruitful, like the tree, that brings about a bountiful harvest to honor You and nourish others.  Amen

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Psalm 1:1-3

Aug 3 Your Word changes my heart

Oh Father.  Today in Your Word, I am told that while “the men did their work faithfully” at the orders of twenty-six year old King Josiah, they “found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.”  It had been lost, ignored throughout the eighteen years Josiah had been king, and during the reign of his evil father.

When it was brought before the young king, he heard the Word of the Law and his heart was responsive as he understood its meaning.  He humbled himself before You and sought Your will.

Lord, I wonder if today, Your Word has again gotten “lost in the house of the Lord“?

The church is Your house, and it has Your Word, yet are we ignoring it?  Are we teaching it to our people?  Or do we pick and choose what we like and go on with our lives as we want?

Father, I pray that Your believers, Your church, will once again “hear” Your Word.  And that we would understand all that we read with a responsive heart.  Father, let us see where “they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”  And be humbled and change where we are not doing all You command.

I also understand that my body is Your “temple.”   Don’t let Your Word be lost in me!

Open my ears to truly “hear” all that Your Word says.  Even the parts that may not sit easily with me.  Even the parts I wish I didn’t have to obey.

Make my heart responsive to what I hear from You.  Let me be like Josiah, and be humbled and weep before You when I see where I have not been obedient.

Show me how to live by Your Word, with a heart that is responsive to and humbled by what I have heard.  Amen

2 Chronicles 34:8-33

July 3 Your Word nourishes me

Father, at age 24, King Josiah read Your Words for the first time.  They affected him so profoundly that he wept and tore his robes.  He gave orders to the priests and others to bring the country’s worship practices in line with what You commanded.

He rid the nation of all remaining idolatry and led his people in worshiping the One True God.

O Lord, I pray that Your Word would still have that effect on people, on me!

Let it be true in my life, that when I read Your Word, it’s meaning is clear to me, and I immediately obey what it says.  If I misunderstand, let me hear Your voice correcting me.  If I forget to obey, remind me.   And if I don’t want to obey, change my attitude.

As in the Psalm, make me like a tree planted by streams of water.  This is a tree that will always have the moisture it needs for its roots to go down deep into the soil and feed from the rich nutrients in the earth to make it strong.  Such a tree will not wither or loose its leaves, but will remain healthy and strong the whole year.

Let me grow in this manner so my faith will yield abundant and good fruit when the time is right: fruit that will glorify and bring honor to You.  Make me strong in my faith, able to withstand the heat, the cold, the wind and storms.  Bless my actions and my service to You with abundance.

Father, let me know Your Word so intimately it becomes my strength and my guide.  Let me speak boldly of my relationship with You to encourage others.  And let these things make me fruitful, like the tree, that brings about a bountiful harvest to honor You and nourish others.  Amen

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Psalm 1:1-3

Aug 3 Your Word changes my heart

Oh Father.  Today in Your Word, I am told that while “the men did their work faithfully” at the orders of twenty-six year old King Josiah, they “found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.”  It had been lost, ignored throughout the eighteen years Josiah had been king, and during the reign of his evil father.

When it was brought before the young king, he heard the Word of the Law and his heart was responsive as he understood its meaning.  He humbled himself before You and sought Your will.

Lord, I wonder if today, Your Word has again gotten “lost in the house of the Lord.“ The church is Your house, and it has Your Word, yet are they ignoring it?  Are they teaching it to their people?  Or do they pick and choose what they like and go on with their lives as they want.

Father, I pray that Your believers, Your church, will once again “hear” Your Word.  And that they would understand what they read with a responsive heart.  Father, let them see where “they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”  And be humbled and change where they are not doing all You command.

I also understand that my body is Your “temple.”   Don’t let Your Word be lost in me!  Open my ears to truly “hear” all that Your Word says.  Even the parts that may not sit easily with me.  Even the parts  I wish I didn’t have to obey.

Make my heart responsive to what I hear from You.  Let me be like Josiah, and be humbled and weep before You when I see where I have not been obedient.

Show me how to live by Your Word, with a heart that is responsive to and humbled by what I have heard.  Amen

2 Chronicles 34:1-33

Jul 3 Your Word nourishes me

Father, at age twenty-four, King Josiah read Your Words for the first time.  They affected him so profoundly that he wept and tore his robes.  He gave orders to the priests and others to bring the country’s worship practices in line with what You commanded.  He rid the nation of all remaining idolatry and led his people in worshiping the One True God.

O Lord, I pray that Your Word would still have that effect on people.

Let it be true in my life, that when I read Your Word, it’s meaning is clear to me, and I immediately obey what it says.  If I misunderstand, let me hear Your voice correcting me.  If I forget to obey, remind me.   And if I don’t want to obey, change my attitude.

As in the Psalm, make me like a tree planted by streams of water.  This is a tree that will always have the moisture it needs for its roots to go down deep into the soil and feed from the rich nutrients in the earth to make it strong.  Such a tree will not wither or loose its leaves, but will remain healthy and strong the whole year.

Let me grow in this manner so my faith will yield abundant and good fruit when the time is right: fruit that will glorify and bring honor to You.  Make me strong in my faith, able to withstand the heat, the cold, the wind and storms.  Bless my actions and my service to You with abundance.

Father, let me know Your Word so intimately it becomes my strength and my guide.  Let me speak boldly of my relationship with You to encourage others.  And let these things make me fruitful, like the tree, that brings about a bountiful harvest to honor You and nourish others.  Amen

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Psalm 1:1-6

Aug 3 Your Word changes my heart

Oh Father. Today in Your Word, I am told that while “the men did their work faithfully” at the orders of twenty-six year old King Josiah, they “found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.” It had been lost, ignored throughout the eighteen years Josiah had been king, and during the reign of his evil father.

 

When it was brought before the young king, he heard the Word of the Law and his heart was responsive as he understood its meaning. He humbled himself before You and sought Your will.

 

Lord, I wonder if today, Your Word has again gotten “lost in the house of the Lord?“ The church is Your house, and it has Your Word, yet are they ignoring it? Are they teaching it to their people? Or do they pick and choose what they like and go on with their lives as they want.

Father, I pray that Your believers, Your church, will once again ‘hear’ Your Word. And that they would understand what they read with a responsive heart. Father, let them see where “they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book”. And be humbled and change where they are not doing all You command.

I also understand that my body is Your ‘temple’.   Don’t let Your Word be lost in me! Open my ears to truly “hear” all that Your Word says. Even the parts that may not sit easily with me. Even the parts I wish I didn’t have to obey. Make my heart responsive to what I hear from You. Let me be like Josiah, and be humbled and weep before You when I see where I have not been obedient.

Show me how to live by Your Word, with a heart that is responsive, humbled, by what I have heard. Amen

2 Chronicles 34:1-33

July 3 Your Word nourishes me

Father, at age twenty-four, King Josiah read Your Words for the first time. They affected him so profoundly that he wept and tore his robes. He gave orders to the priests and others to bring the country’s worship practices in line with what You commanded. He rid the nation of all other idolatry and led his people in worshiping the One True God.

O Lord, I pray that Your Word would still have that effect on people. Let it be true in my life, that when I read Your Word, it’s meaning is clear to me, and I immediately obey what it says. If I misunderstand, let me hear Your voice correcting me. If I forget to obey, remind me.   And if I don’t want to obey, change my attitude.

As in the Psalm, make me like a tree planted by streams of water. This is a tree that will always have the moisture it needs for its roots to go down deep into the soil and feed from the rich nutrients in the earth to make it strong. Such a tree will not wither or loose its leaves, but will remain healthy and strong the whole year.

Let me grow in this manner so my faith will yield abundant and good fruit when the time is right: fruit that will glorify and bring honor to You. Make me strong in my faith, able to withstand the heat, the cold, the wind and storms. Bless my actions and my service to You with abundance.

Father, let me know Your Word so intimately  it becomes my strength and my guide. Let me speak boldly of my relationship with You to encourage others. And let these things make  me fruitful, like the tree, that brings about a bountiful harvest to honor You and nourish others. Amen

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Psalm 1:1-3

Oct 15 Call us back to You

Father, even now, You give Words to Jeremiah for the people’s salvation. Your mercy is so great that even after all they have done, You will spare them, if only they will turn back to You. This is Your heart. That Your people will do the right thing. That they will love You, and return to You. That they will turn away from the things that are bringing them harm and death, and turn to You to receive life!

They had Your Word. It had been found in the Temple when Josiah, King of Judah had the Temple repaired. It caused a major revival in the young King. And in the people too, for a time. But Josiah’s son, who came next, was not a godly king. And the pull of idolatry was strong. And Your Word was not readily available to the people, so they relied on the leaders and priests to lead them. Unfortunately, the priests had been doing their own thing for so long, most were not familiar with or devoted to Your Word.

Father, I have loved ones who are also pretty much doing their own thing. Yet You are calling them back to You with that same heart, wanting them to come to You and receive life. My world is full of all kinds of idolatry, and the pull is strong. Father, send someone into their lives who they will listen to. Help them let go of the things that are causing them harm and leading them to death.

And let my faith be as strong as Jeremiah’s. Even in the face of threatened death, He stood strong in knowing You were there. You had told him: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” And “Do not be terrified…they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you.” Father, those words are for me too. And just as You knew Jeremiah, even before he was born, You also know me. Just as You rescued him, You have rescued me.

Lord, evil was alive and well in Judah, and also when You walked the earth, it is alive and well in my time, and in my country. I echo Paul’s words to the Thessalonians: Father, “deliver [me] from wicked and evil people…strengthen and protect [me] from the evil one…direct [my] heart into Your love and perseverance”. Father, strengthen me to “never tire of doing what is good”.

You are the Lord of peace. Father, I so need Your peace. From my own doubts in understanding Your direction for my life, to relationships that are not all they could be, to the direction my country and the world seem to be heading. Would You “give me peace at all times and in every way”.   I cling to You. And look to You. Only Your peace satisfies. Amen

Jeremiah 1:5,17,19; 26:1-27:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18