Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture today is Amos 5:24 (ESV).

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Even if you say you don’t know any verses from the Book of Amos, you likely recognize this. We all long for justice to be done, but usually to those who have harmed us. However, the concept of God’s justice means all of us will be judged, not merely those we want to be judged. All will be held accountable. Are we dealing justly with each other in the first place? This is the issue Jesus addresses in His teaching about the speck in our brother’s eye and the log in our own (Matthew 7:3-5). Thankfully, God is not only just, but merciful and He will forgive us when we repent.

Wise and wonderful God, help us to remember why we were created in Your image, and to care for each other and the world You have given us. Bless us to share Your gifts everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Amos 1:1 (ESV).

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Amos was not a “professional” prophet in that he was not a priest or appointed to the court as were most others. He was a shepherd! This teaches us two things – God still chooses who He wants to use, regardless of their background, and God will inspire us to do what He has planned for us. There’s an old bumper sticker saying that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. We must trust that He will provide what we need in order to answer His call.

Gracious God, You have called us to be part of the care for creation. Bless us to use these gifts according to Your word, that the world may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture today is Joel 3:20 (ESV).

But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.

As with virtually all the prophets, Joel ends with a promise of hope from the Lord. We read in Revelation 21:2 “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” This is the culmination of the New Covenant, God once again dwelling among us in the New Jerusalem. All are invited to accept His mercy for repentance and live with Him. Jesus promised us “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2).

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of how we follow our own path instead of the safety of Your way. Forgive us and send us to share the wonderful blessing of Your love to the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Joel 2:1 (ESV).

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,

As prophets are called to do, Joel shares God’s words of warning. He likens it to an attack or disaster, when the watchmen would blow trumpets to tell the people to stop what they are doing and take cover. This is exactly what God means: sin is attacking us and we must stop what we are doing and take cover in Him. We hear that “the day of the Lord is coming, it is near”, but God calls us to acknowledge our sin and accept His forgiveness first.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for our stubborn disobedience! Forgive us and send us to share Your love and light with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Joel 1:1 (ESV).

The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:

While the Book of Joel is short, it packs a real punch. It speaks of a calamity that befalls the nation because of their disobedience and disbelief. Notice that the verse says “the word of the Lord”, not Joel’s own thoughts. Prophets are called to bring God’s word of warning to the people. However, it is always up to each of us to accept the forgiveness He offers when we return in repentance.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You are willing to forgive and restore us when we realize our mistakes. Help us to be the disciples of today, sharing Your love and Your call to repentance with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Hosea 14:9 (ESV).

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

We have heard guidance such as Hosea offers here before. In Psalm 107:43 we are taught “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.” This is not the simple rhetoric trick of “if you want to be seen as wise, think this” that appeals to our vanity. This is a loving concern for God’s children, not merely seeming wise but truly being wise by following the Lord. We have also heard the warning in the last phrase before: “The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers” (Proverbs 10:29). God is a place of refuge for all that put their trust in Him.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry when we forget all You have done for us. Forgive us, and give us new strength to stand against evil with Your love. Amen.

Our scripture today is ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬ (‭ESV‬‬).

So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

What does it mean to “wait continually for your God”? There are several other Old Testament verses that encourage us in the same way. In Psalm 27:14 we read “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Lamentations 3:25 tells us “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” So waiting can be active too, seeking God’s will and presence in our lives. Perhaps the best known verse about waiting is Isaiah 40:31 “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Waiting on the Lord means patient faith, trusting His timing and not our own.

Gracious God, You want to be part of everything we do. Help us to be patient with each other as You are patient with us, and share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Hosea 10:12 (ESV).

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Even as Hosea warns the people of God’s judgement, there is a call to repentance and reconciliation with the Lord. He tells us to prepare our hearts the way a field is prepared for planting. By using examples they would understand, the prophet urges them to change, that they may be fruitful. Jesus uses the same kind of example when He tells us “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). God has reached out to us in love and asks us to receive it so that it may grow in us.

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of the ways we have wasted Your good gifts. Help us to be fruitful disciples, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Hosea 1:10 (ESV).

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”

God is angry with His wayward children, and He directs Hosea to demonstrate how wicked their disobedience is and how badly it hurts God to see this. In this verse He repeats the promise of His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:5) – that the people will be numerous and have a home. Even after the horrific actions that brought on the Exile, God stands by His promise. Nothing we can do will cause Him to break this! As Paul tells us, nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the awful things we have done. Forgive us, cleanse us through the gift of our Savior, and send us to share the joy of Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Hosea 1:1 (ESV).

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

The Book of Hosea opens with a list of the rulers in both the northern and southern kingdoms of his time. This is important for several reasons. For us reading this now, it places the writing at a specific time in history with names of kings that are mentioned in other historical records. For the Jews, genealogy has always been a part of their lives, tracing their lineage back for generations. However, by mentioning the names of kings from both kingdoms (Israel and Judah), it points to a day when God’s people will be reunited with Him and each other, without the human divisions we have created.

Patient God, as there is no division in You, there should be none between us as Your children. Help us to see each other as You see us, created in Your image and charged with sharing Your love everywhere. Amen.