Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture today is Ezekiel 10:18 (MEV).

Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

One of the saddest verses in all of scripture, this records the Lord’s presence departing the temple. God tells them “if you don’t want to be My special people, I will treat you as I do other people who do not honor Me.” God is not abandoning us as we have Him, but rather allowing us to see the full impact of a life not surrendered to Him. There will be hard times for God’s people because we have marred His image in us by going our own way. However, we need only return in repentance to receive love, forgiveness and renewal.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our willful disobedience and how we have wasted Your good gifts. Bless us to be the sons and daughters You intend, sharing Your love with all. Amen.

Our scripture today is Ezekiel 3:17 (NIV).

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”

In the time that Ezekiel lived, watchmen served as lookouts for danger that might affect their people, normally an enemy army approaching. They would warn the inhabitants so they could be prepared for what was coming. God has appointed Ezekiel as a spiritual watchman to warn the people that their faith failures will bring catastrophe upon them. Others have warned them before, but God continues to send prophets to speak to them in His name. We are to be watchmen for the Lord as well, sharing His love and care with everyone.

Gracious God, You are patient with us beyond all measure. Forgive us when we fail to live up to our covenant, and come to You in repentance. Cleanse us, strengthen us and send us to spread the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Ezekiel 1:2-3 (NIV).

On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him.

God calls the prophet Ezekiel to minister to both those in exile in Babylon and those remaining in Jerusalem. He reminds them all of God’s continuing care for them even in their disobedience and suffering. He tells the nations around Judah not to gloat because as the Lord has judged them, so shall He judge all the people of the earth. His prophecy contains wondrous visions of the time when God will completely restore creation and come to dwell with us again. God’s love for us is never-ending.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we have resisted Your love and guidance by choosing our own paths. Forgive us, heal us and send us to share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture today is Lamentations 5:21 (NIV).

“Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old”

Lamentations ends with a plea from the people to be restored to God. This is the basis of the Parable of the Prodigal Son that Jesus tells us in Luke 15. Thinking we can do it ourselves and don’t need God’s guidance always leads to disaster. He is a God of mercy and compassion and no matter how badly we screw up, we can’t “out-sin” His love for us. God is always ready to welcome us back when we admit our wrongdoing and ask His help in changing.

Loving Lord, we know You are the only one who can save us from sin and death. Forgive us and send us to share the wonder of what You have done for us with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Lamentations 4:16 (NIV).

The Lord himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.

There was special condemnation for the priests and elders who did not speak out against the apostasy and idol worship that was widespread. There is a reason the First Commandment is “You shall have no other gods before Me.” When God is not honored, He allows us to experience what living in the world can be like. It is sad to see our repeated failures – banished from Eden, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorra, and now the destruction of Jerusalem. However, God still has not given up on us and He still has a plan for His children.

Gracious God, thank You for mercy instead of what justice would demand of us. Bless us to be new creatures through the gift of our Savior, and send us in Your name everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV).

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

These two verses are similar to Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Even in the midst of disaster, God’s people are not forgotten or without hope. If our faith falters because of difficulty it was shaky faith at best. Jesus told us there would be tough times for believers. We can’t see God’s eternal plan, we can only trust His promise of salvation for those who believe in Christ our Savior. Many times I have thought “I’m sure going to ask God about this when I get there!” However, when we do, I doubt we will have anything to ask at all!

Heavenly Father, we know Your will is ever directed for our good. Forgive us our doubts as well as our sins, refresh us in faith, and send us to share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Lamentations 2:6 (NIV).

He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden; he has destroyed his place of meeting. The Lord has made Zion forget her appointed festivals and her Sabbaths; in his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest.

It is hard to read about God allowing the destruction of the beautiful temple but it had become just another building. It was no longer the symbol of God dwelling with His people. He effectively says “You want to live according to your own ways, this is what it is like.” God has not abandoned us but He wants us to see very clearly had badly we and this world are broken and how very badly we need to live in His love and mercy.

Gracious God, we are sorry when we trust in our own feeble strength and wisdom rather than Your love and power. Forgive us and fill us with Your Spirit that we may tell the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Lamentations 1:3 (NIV).

After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.

As we have seen, God allows His people to “dwell among the nations”, that is, to be no different than the people who do not know God. The Book of Lamentations consists of five poems detailing the emotions of those who have been left in ruined Jerusalem during the exile. They mirror some of the psalms of sadness we have read before, but these deal with a specific situation – the destroyed city and those struggling to understand and exist. It is a little difficult to read because it deals with pain, but reminds us that even in the worst of times, God is still there for us.

Loving Lord, we know our sin is the cause of our separation from You. Forgive us and heal us, and use us as You intend for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture today is Jeremiah 52:12-13 (MEV).

Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard who served the king of Babylon came into Jerusalem, and burned the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Even all the large houses, he burned with fire.

We have read this before in 2 Kings 24-25. It is no less sad and stunning here. Israel and Judah both fall to outside invaders. After dividing themselves into two separate kingdoms and abandoning their relationship with God, He allows them to be part of the world of that time as they have chosen. As we see, it does not end well for them. However, God still remembers His promise even when we forget ours, and this is not the end for His people.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our disobedient ways and our selfishness. Forgive us and help us to be faithful representatives of Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture today is Jeremiah 33:8 (MEV).

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against Me. And I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against Me.

God sends a message of hope to mitigate our disobedience. He promises a way for us to be made clean and able to be in relationship with Him again. Previously the prophet spoke of a “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31). At the Last Supper in Luke 22:20 Jesus says “This cup is the new covenant in My blood which is shed for you.” When we accept His sacrifice for us and ask forgiveness, we are able to be born again and be the people He intends.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to be our Savior and example. Help us to live as He taught and share Your love with everyone. Amen.