Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture today is Habakkuk 1:5 (MEV).

Look among the nations, and watch— wonder and be amazed! For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe, though it were told you.

The prophet Habakkuk records a conversation with God that points to faith in Him even when we don’t understand. This is the basis of much of Paul’s teaching about faith in his letters. In Romans 1:17 he writes “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”” Galatians 3:11 tells us “Now it is evident that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, for “The just shall live by faith.”” God is trying to teach us that while human promises often fail, His never do. He has made a New Covenant with us through Jesus our Savior. Those who put their trust in Him regardless of what they see in the world will be blessed.

Gracious God, we don’t always see the plan You have for us, but we know You want only good for Your children. Help us to walk by faith, not sight, believing Your promise to us and sharing Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Nahum 1:15 (MEV).

Behold, on the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Make your feasts, O Judah, and complete your vows. For the wicked one will never again pass through your midst; he is completely cut down.

The Book of Nahum tells of the fall of Nineveh and the eventual restoration of God’s people. In Jonah we heard that Nineveh’s people had repented, but sadly, they did not continue in their faith. This verse reminds us of Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news of happiness, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” Later, God will send the Savior who will bring the everlasting Good News.

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we forget Your way and wander away on our own. Restore us and may we go in Your name to share Your love. Amen.

Our scripture today is ‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ (‭MEV‬‬).

But as for me, I watch for the Lord; I await the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

As with most other prophets, Micah ends with a note of hope, that those who put their trust in God know He will hear them. He speaks for himself personally, as we must all choose God’s way for ourselves. He also speaks looking to the future of his people, echoing Joshua 24:15 “Yet as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Our hope must be contagious, telling everyone about God’s saving power.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our disobedient waste of Your good gifts. Forgive us we pray, and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Micah 6:8 (MEV).

He has told you, O man, what is good— and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

If you know one verse from the prophet Micah, this is likely it. This takes us back to the very beginning when God walked with us in the garden and He asked us to be part of what He was doing in creation. It sums up our relationship with Him. The job description is brief but all encompassing. Later, Jesus will explain it in the Greatest Commandment (Luke 10:27) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). I use the phrase “Love God, love neighbor, make disciples” as my way of remembering. Sometimes we make things way too complicated. We need to focus on what God requires of us.

Loving Lord, You have called us to be partners in caring for the gifts You have given us. Forgive us for wasting them and help us to use them wisely for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture today is Micah 4:2 (MEV).

And many nations will come and say, “Come, that we might go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He might teach us His ways, and that we might walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Micah reminds the people of the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 22:18 – “Through your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” God has called them to be His representatives in the world but they are avoiding this responsibility. In this vision Micah shows that even the pagan nations will see the truth and come to know the Lord. This should make us all stop and ask God to forgive us, and to use us as He has planned to share His love everywhere.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we wander off, failing to honor our covenant to love one another and obey Your word. We ask Your forgiveness through Jesus our Savior. Bless us to be the voice of the Good News to all. Amen.

Our scripture today is Micah 1:2 (MEV).

Hear, all you peoples! Listen, earth and everything in it, that the Sovereign Lord may be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple.

Micah lays out God’s case against His people in the manner of legal proceedings of the time. While there is much to say about our sin and God’s judgement, the guilty verdict is tempered by God’s love and covenant faithfulness. Even after we have broken God’s law and His heart repeatedly, He honors the commitment He made to Abraham and humanity. His love truly will not let us go.

Heavenly Father, we are ashamed of our selfishness when You offer all we ever need. Forgive us and strengthen us in faith, that we may go in Your name to the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Jonah 4:1 (MEV).

Now this greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry.

God decides not to destroy Nineveh and Jonah is angry. We need to read that again and shake our heads sadly. This is an unfortunately human reaction. Sometimes when we say we want to see justice, we literally mean we want to SEE it happen, to watch “them get theirs”. This violates God’s intent for us on so many levels. We are called to go to everyone in His love, not to cheer for their destruction! We must remember that Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it (John 3:17), and we are commissioned to do the same.

Heavenly Father, help us to see that we are all sinners, deserving Your justice, but grateful for Your mercy and forgiveness. May we forgive others and offer them Your love. Amen.

Our scripture today is Jonah 3:10 (MEV).

When God saw their actions, that they turned from their evil ways, He changed His mind about the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

Jonah obeys God and delivers His warning to the city of Nineveh. Prophets have spoken to Israel and Judah repeatedly but not much has changed there. Here Jonah is wildly successful! The king proclaims a fast and they repent. God forgives them and does not destroy the city. God gives us this example to teach that He shows no favoritism; all who come to Him in true repentance will receive mercy and forgiveness.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the way we have turned from You and harmed one another. Forgive us and use us to show the world the joy of salvation and a life in You. Amen.

Our scripture today is Jonah 3:1-2 (MEV).

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.”

God has given Jonah time to think and He repeats His charge for him almost word for word as He did in Jonah 1:1-2. God is consistent in His plans for us and His desire that everyone have an opportunity to know His love. This is part of the covenant with Abraham, that through his line the whole world would be blessed. Jonah is sent to Nineveh that they might hear God’s word and repent.

Loving Lord, You want all Your children to know Your love and salvation. Send us to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Jonah 1:17 (MEV).

Now the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

If you have a hard time believing this fish story, you likely have a larger problem with believing all of creation! This shows that we must be careful not to let “did that really happen?” distract us from God’s truth for us. Centuries later, Jesus uses this verse as a warning to the religious leaders about testing God: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40). This is a direct reference to His three days and nights in the tomb. It is the promise that if we die to sin in Him, we will also rise with Him.

Heavenly Father, help us to focus on what is essential and when we don’t understand, bless us to seek Your wisdom. May we listen and learn, and go to share Your love everywhere. Amen.