Send the Right Leader for this Nation

[S] Ezekiel 14:14 -- 14 even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves," declares the Lord GOD.

[O] Subsequent verses explains further about how these three righteous men would not even save their family in this land corrupted against God.  I thought Noah's days were bad enough and yet he saved his family members, so the landscape has worsened to the max by this time of Ezekiel.  This is more of a reflection but I wonder where our current landscape compares to it although it could not be an apples-to-apples comparison I won't be surprised if we're not far (or exceeding) from it.

[A] As the US Presidential election is coming up soon and we're hearing about a lot of promises from the candidates for the future of this nation, I am going to pray that despite their religious faith, God would move their hearts to do some housecleaning so this nation would draw closer to His ways of living.  I will also take more ownership of studying their values and visions to cast my carefully discerned vote in November.

[P] Dear Father, please save this nation from the ugliness depicted in this passage.  Please set the right leader who will carry the people of this great nation to do great things for You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Path of Righteous Will Shine

[S] Proverbs 4:18 --

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.


[O] Some people say this world is getting darker and darker and I somewhat agree but when I read this passage I realized that the root cause may be due to diminishing sources of light stemming from righteous people.  If you think about it, the human society is lit up by those who radiate the positive changes to others and it's not done through a system.

[A] Gather more and more people desiring to walk righteous lives so the community we live in will become brighter and brighter.

[P] Dear Father, please send more of those who are sold out for You so that how we desire to live will rise like morning sun.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

Anchoring My Focus in Turbulent Times

[S] Psalm 11:3-5 --
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?"
4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

[O] Even when the foundations of the righteous are destroyed, God's throne in heaven will never change and that's what the righteous will anchor his faith in because God will sift out the righteous from the wicked and He will raise His righteous people up with or without foundations.

[A] It feels like some parts of the foundation for our family's become shaky with a severe earthquake but God's preparing my heart through this Psalm about where to keep my focus during this turbulent times -- on His presence in our lives and His throne in the heaven -- for He is greater than any crisis I face and He is the one who will weigh our hearts to embrace those who are righteous in His eyes.

[P] Dear Father, thank You for always preparing my heart with Your words so I may retain strength to face difficulties coming my way.  I praise You for being such a caring God and I commit this life to be used for Your Kingdom's expansion here on earth.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The Searching Eyes of God

[S] 2 Chronicles 16:9 --
9  "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

[O] Whenever I read this verse, I visualize the eyes of God scanning the earth to look for those whose heart is completely His.  It's almost like a very powerful radar detecting every corner of this world.  It's not only intriguing to envision that but also very sad to think about how God has to comb through to find such people.  These words came to King Asa through the seer Hanani when Asa out of his fear relied on other nation to protect himself rather than committing to God wholeheartedly.  It is safe to say that in times of need, people will call upon the name of their strong friends when God is waiting for us to call on His strength and power.

[A] I am going through a time of feeling like my energy is just being drained left and right with lots of things going on in major parts of my life.  I do feel like Asa and my inclination is to find some ways out of here using my own methods but I want to throw myself at God and be found by Him as one whose heart is completely His.

[P] Dear Father, please mold me to be one whose heart is sold out for You always.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.