Psalm 23:3
…he restores my soul.

The most popular psalm certainly, if not the most beloved words of the Bible. This is a quiet peaceful song/poem until you realize every verse is about God in action. He is doing everything necessary to bring life to us as fallen human beings.

Nothing is more important than to heal our “sin-sick” soul; that which is so beautiful about us as his image bearers that we stain chasing after our own desires, not his. We aren’t a lost cause. Restoration is one of his specialties.

Pray for God to work hard on your soul.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Where is God in your life? If he is front and center then the confidence available in his name is amazing. Nothing can get in the way of God accomplishing what he wants through you if you remain focused on him always ahead of you preparing what you will discover.

Pray for more attention to God’s signs before you.

Nehemiah 2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

It is not improbable that God works in our lives. Chances are you have seen this happen. What is fascinating to me is considering God working through mundane matters like lumber for your house. Here is the situation. Either God is big enough to actually be interested in our everyday life or he is not. If God is big enough, then we don’t get to tell him what should interest him.

Pray to God about some little thing today.

2 Chronicles 32:7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.”

God’s power does not come from brut force. God is always in charge even if it seems that he is far away. It isn’t military power, financial power, diplomatic solutions, nothing that comes out of humanity that will bring ultimate goodness to the world. We work for justice in all those arenas but that is all. Only by turning to Jesus and putting our lives in his hands will the world be changed for good. And this is exactly what will happen. In the meantime we wait and we serve.

Pray for those who wait.

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.

When we are standing up for God’s ways, we are many times going to go against our culture. Christian disciples are actually called to be radically counter cultural. This means that if someone is against you for following God, you do not attack or withdraw. You stick with God, and graciously treat the one who opposes you with respect. God will figure it out. He always does.

Pray for those who think they are doing the right thing opposing God and his ways.

2 Chronicles 17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

King Jehoshaphat is a remarkable ruler. He is a wise king of Judah, and not only does he follow God’s ways, he sends his government officials to teach the people, as well! O, that the Christian community would have such passion to seek God’s guidance.

Read a chapter of the Bible today and pray concerning what you read.

2 Chronicles 1:22 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

This passage is about King Asa, who gets rid of all the idols in the land, and then even other tribes come and live with him as his kingdom is right with God. There is no compromise or nuances when it comes to being a follower of Jesus. You are either with him or seeking him. If you are forsaking him because you think you have something better in mind, he won’t stick around. Doesn’t really like to spend much time where he is not wanted.

Pray for those who are seeking to learn more about Jesus.

1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

This is from King David’s prayer in thanksgiving for the offering that has come in to build the Temple. What we give God is from God. He enjoys our giving generously though he certainly doesn’t need it.
It reminds me of the process of shopping for groceries and the cook who prepares a luscious meal. The gift of the meal is the love that
goes into preparing the offering, not the ingredients themselves.

Pray for all those involved in food services.

vacation- pre-dated to follow

2 Kings 6:16-17 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

I have this passage in mind whenever I am in situations that there is need of protection. It could be driving a windy road or protecting against my own sharp tongue. I also pray this covering over our children. They haven’t returned singed by the fire but I know they are being watched over.

Pray for the protection of your loved ones today.

1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

In worship, we are not the participants, we are the witnesses. We mainly see God’s Spirit at work or we mainly see people at work. You can tell the difference and it doesn’t have a lot to do with enthusiasm, entertainment, awe or reverence.

O, all those can be expected when God is at work. Yet, you can tell the difference. It is about being authentically open and expectant that the Spirit is there. Already waiting for you. Just don’t do too much to get in the Spirit’s way.

Pray for those who lead worship.