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1 Chronicles |
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| Chapter 1 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 16 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 2 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 17 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 3 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 18 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 4 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 19 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 5 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 20 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 6 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 21 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 7 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 22 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 8 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 23 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 9 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 24 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 10 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 25 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 11 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 26 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 12 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 27 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 13 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 28 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 14 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 29 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 15 | Prayer | Devotional |
Great God of Creation, we have been made in Your image. From one man, our father Adam, have come all men. Each nation is known by You, where they have come from, and where they are going. Some have been mighty in their own eyes, and in the opinion of their neighbors. Even the strongest have faced trouble and death. You have granted to us the great gift of faith. Abraham, chosen by You, and sent out by You, is also a father to us, a father in this most precious gift of faith. Help us to walk in the power of faith today. Our days and our people come and go, but You are eternal. Through faith in our Messiah Jesus Christ we have everlasting life. This world will pass away, and so many of the names and nations of this world will perish, but You will remain forever and ever. Our life is in You.
Father God, You have chosen us in Your Son, Jesus Christ, the greatest descendant of David, of the tribe of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. This great royal Messiah Jesus is our only hope. Our hope is not in religious objects, or other great possessions. We do not trust in our land, or in our descendants. We do not gain eternal life through the family of our first birth, no matter how great our privileges may have been, whether our name among men was high or low. You have given us a second birth in Jesus Christ. Our heritage in Him is the best heritage that we could ever have, and it is ours by adoption. Help us to understand that heritage more deeply for our spiritual good. Especially help us to understand the benefit of being Your sons in Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Glorious Lord, Your Son Jesus is forever the chosen King over Your people. He came from a long line of famous sons. We now have this royal heritage. Our current status of blessing is due to our relation to You through this great descendant of David. As children who have been brought into the best of all families through Your kind rescue, we pray that You would give us a greater appreciation of our new history, that we might walk in faith securely in Your eternal Son.
Father God, how is it that Judah came to be the tribe of our Messiah King Jesus? Surely it was not through His moral or physical strength, but by Your electing purposes. The story of every land and people is full of pain. Much of it has been lost to us as part of a forgotten past. In pain we have come into this world, and we have caused much trouble for others through our sin. Please forgive us. Help us now in our difficulties. Bless Your holy Son Jesus, who for our sake, faced the greatest turmoil ever known. Enlarge His Kingdom. May Your hand always be with Him. Keep His descendants from harm. One day we shall be removed from all trouble. Grant us a taste of that even today. May the story of Your Son’s church not be everlasting pain, but the greatest eternal delight. Today we face danger and trouble, for not all have faith, but You know what we can bear, and what would be too much for us. Look on us in the day of present danger, and deliver us from evil.
Sovereign Lord, what trouble we have brought upon ourselves and others by our sin. So many have fallen into the hands of powerful enemies. If You were not stronger than every foe, there would be no hope for Your people. We are so thankful to You for Your marvelous strength and protection. Trouble is very near to us. We cry out to You with this urgent plea, not only for us, but for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. We face the hatred of ruthless men and unseen powers and principalities. Our enemies would desire to sift us as wheat, but Your Son has prayed for us that our faith may not fail. Help us to strengthen one another by that same faith, and to comfort each other in days of trial. You have granted to us great comfort in the gospel. Surely our troubles will not last forever.
Lord God, one of Your tribes of old was given over to special duties of worship. They were in charge of Your temple, and in the tabernacle of old. Among their number were the descendants of Aaron, who had priestly duties before You on behalf of all the people. Some of Your servants in the tribe of Levi had special duties of singing in Your presence. Our High Priest, Jesus, is not descended from this tribe, yet He is a priest forever for us according to Your Word. Through Him, we also are priests to You. Together we enjoy the special duties of worshipers. Give us spiritual strength that we might sing to You with joy forever. We flee to Your Son for refuge day by day, for we have sinned against You. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for our restoration to the special privileges of those who worship You in Christ. Grant us Your great provision day by day. Bring us to the heavenly Zion, where we will worship You forever, together with all the redeemed.
Our Father, it is such a privilege to be a part of Your church. Though our stories will largely be lost to history, it is enough for us that we are known by You. We rejoice that our names are written in heaven. Why should we fall into a snare of sin because of our desire for fame and for the praise of men? Surely You have warned us to seek first Your kingdom, and not to give ourselves over to worry. Isn’t it enough for us that we are Your children? Lead us in the pursuit of righteousness according to the commandment of Jesus Christ. Help us to be faithful to You in our families. Establish a good heritage in our children and grandchildren for many generations, a heritage of faith and obedience. We know that this can only come by Your grace, but we want to be faithful to Your command, that our sons and daughters would fight the good fight for Your Kingdom. Give us hope, even in the day when it might appear that all is already lost.
Glorious God, there are those who were heads of father’s houses among Your people of old. They were well known people of some position and importance. Some of them had moments of great military victory. They surely had many gifts, and had achieved great things by the power that You supplied. Yet, even they were humbled and carried away by enemies in the day of disaster. Among Your people were those who were the ancestors and descendants of King Saul. He was a King in Israel, yet not the father of the Messiah. His dynasty would end with himself. Help us, O Lord. If we and our children are not found in the great Son of David, Jesus Christ, there is no hope for us. Our wealth and achievements can never save us.
Father God, You know how to bring a day of blessing upon those who deserve only Your wrath and curse. You are able to meet the requirements of both Your justice and Your mercy. Through the wonder of substitution, there is a hope and a future for those who would call upon Your Name. You have appointed one Man as the representative of Your children in the place of judgment. Over the generations, in anticipation of the provision of Your Son, You have shown much patience and granted much provision to Your people. You gave men to serve You in an earthly sanctuary. You kept a remnant for Yourself in the times of even the deepest wickedness. When all would have seemed lost, when it appeared that Your work of grace had been utterly overturned by wicked men, You restored people from the place of discipline, and established a presence again in the land in accord with Your promises. Without this one Substitute for sinners there could have been no hope for us, no future, no return from captivity, no gifts of faith and repentance, and no reformation when we had wandered so far from Your Word. Thank You for Jesus Christ. He has taken away our wickedness and leads us even now into a better sanctuary than the one made with human hands. There is a great day coming. The repentant have been given a secure hope in a good land through the life and death of Your Son.
Almighty Father, we mourn the loss of leaders who in previous days led us in good pathways. The mysteries of Your providence are more than we can fathom. Help us to have the strength of silence when words will only add to our confusion. Help us to keep faith with You, to seek guidance from You, and to walk in the way of Your Word.
Father God, we thank You for moments when we experience a new beginning and a fresh hope. We especially thank You for Jesus Christ, the Son of David. He will lead us into victory. We want to live in the church, the city of this great Son of David. Give us the joy of being with men and women who are strong in faith, service, and humility. Save us by a great victory at just the right time, and use Your people according to Your wise plans. May Your Son be our stronghold. Give brave men and women the new water of Your life-giving Spirit that they might pour out their lives as offerings before You. This is how we want to live our lives in the camp of Your people. Help us to rejoice in You when You appoint some among us who will be doers of great deeds. Keep envy far from us, since we remember that everything that any of us has is surely by Your grace. You give strength, intelligence, faithfulness, and love from Your storehouse of all that is good. You are to be praised for every good gift. One falls, and another is raised up to serve. We are weak. You are strong. May Your Name be praised forever.
Great God, we thank You that we are not alone. Above all, You are with us, but You have given us the gift of living within the society of Your people. In even the most desperate situation, You will bring helpers to us according to Your will. We ask that You would bring us good friends and co-laborers. Keep away from us those who will not bless Your people with the peace and wisdom that come from above. There are those who only bring fruitless division. We cannot bear the trouble that such false workers bring. Will we even become people like that? May it never be. May our allegiance to the house of the Son of David be strong by Your grace. Grant us the ability to work peacefully and joyfully with others. We know that most of the service in Your kingdom is not the work of a few, but is a common labor under the leadership of our one great King. Help us to see the others who are the gifts that You have already given to us, and grant us an uncommon love for one another. Give us more compatriots who are blessed brothers and sisters in the holy warfare that You have appointed for Your children in our place and time.
Lord God, what an amazing thing that You gave a holy ark for Your people to build, and then to carry, the ark of the covenant, the ark of God, where You were pleased to dwell above the cherubim! Nonetheless, how dangerous a thing it was to touch that ark! One of Your holy men died by reaching out his hand to steady it. Lord, there is a sense in which it seems to us that it is a fearful thing to serve You, for we wonder about the consequences of coming near You wrongly. We wonder about the remaining pride and presumption in our hearts. We wonder about what our sin and weakness will mean for us and for those we love. Lord, how can we serve You without danger or great trouble? Yet we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, and we are called by Him to follow in the way of cross. Grant us courage and secret joy alongside our very rational fear.
Great Lord and King, You will use whatever means You desire in order to build Your kingdom. Even beyond the community of faith, there are those that You appoint to bring resources and skills that You will use for our good and Your glory. Grant us wisdom as we move forward in the mission that is before us. May we be an army of love, proclaiming the truth of the love of Christ to every land.
Sovereign Lord, at just the right time You shine the light of Your Spirit upon Your holy Word, and in the depths of our hearts we see the error of our ways and the glory of Your Son. Thank You for this tremendous grace. Thank you for the gifts of faith and repentance that You give to us day by day. As we see the wonder of Your holy Word, we give ourselves again to You. We give ourselves again to the joy of Your appointed worship. We give ourselves to holy singing and rejoicing in Your presence. We marvel at this great provision. Where once there was ignorance, disobedience, and death, now You have given to us new knowledge and astounding celebration. Grant to us the gift of holy discernment that we would reject false worship, but let us not despise those who rejoice in You in accord with Your will. May we join in that appointed service with a fullness of joy that could only come from You.
Father God, You are here in Your city, Your church. You give us food for our souls, as You have also given us food for our bodies. You grant to each of us a part in the service of thanks that we offer up to You. There is much reason for us to draw near to You in Christ. You are great. You have made perfect promises. You have redeemed Your people and have brought us into Your land in Christ Jesus. You have blessed us with a wonderful mission. We will extend Your worship everywhere. May all the peoples of the earth worship You, for You are the one who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. You keep us, and You save us. Gather us again to worship You, for You should be praised forever and ever. May our rejoicing in Your presence be new and fresh every day, as Your people bring to You the fruits of Your abundant blessings.
God of Grace and Glory, You have put it within our hearts that we should serve You. Will we build a house for You? No, we will be a house for You, a house that You will build. Your Son is the Cornerstone in this new house. Through His death and resurrection that great Cornerstone has been placed into perfect position. You have given us a sure foundation for Your house in His Word spoken through apostles and prophets. You have made us to be living stones in this great house. You have brought us into the family of Your servant David, even calling us Your sons through Jesus Christ. There is no one like You. You have rescued Your people and have helped us to this day. May Your Name be magnified forever. We will pray to You with confidence, and ask You for great things according to Your Word. You have already promised us great things and have already given us great things in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Father God, we thank You that Your Son is such a mighty warrior for us. Surely the enemies against us are formidable. They are too strong for us. Your Son is far superior to every enemy. You are able to make even the attacks of our foes work for Your purposes, since You make the wrath of Your enemies to praise You. Your Son rules over His church and He brings equity and goodness wherever He goes.
Lord God, though we would treat even our enemies with love, we cannot be sure that our actions will be rightly interpreted by others. What shall we do when people are intent upon disgracing us? We need You to fight our battles, and we need to entrust our image and even our very lives to You. Protect Your church when the world comes against us. We are fighting a different kind of battle than the armies of this world, and we need to pursue victory using different sorts of weapons. May we have godliness with contentment, holiness of life, and Christ-like love. May we resist every temptation to sin. Fight this great battle for us day by day. May we especially live at peace with You under the authority of our Messiah King.
Great God, we are the recipients of such a wonderful inheritance. All of our holy expectations are secure in Christ. He has waged war on our behalf. He won a great victory against sin, death, and Satan through His death on the cross. The adversary who came against us was too big an enemy for us. We could never fight against demonic hosts without our King. He has convincingly defeated our foes, and has demonstrated His great success through His resurrection.
Our Father, please forgive us for our presumption, pride, and sin. Why do we insist on knowing things that You do not want us to seek out? Why do we ignore the highest revealed truths that are most important for us to consider? Even in our strange rebellion, You have determined to work out Your good purposes. In Your discipline of Your church, You will not change the Word that You have spoken, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Christ and His people. Your Son did not sin at all, yet He was willing to let Your fury for our sin come upon Him. He became for us a Sin Offering. He is now the Cornerstone of a costly new temple. On that one Rock, the site for Your Kingdom has been firmly established. We are being built up even now on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as our one Rock of Help.
Father God, we thank You that Your Son is building His church. Though it may not seem magnificent in the eyes of the world, its great glories are seen through the eyes of faith. Our Leader is the King of Peace. He built this house for Your Name, and You have established Him as King forever. He has fully obeyed all of Your statutes and has taken away the enormous debt of our sin. He is the Head, and we are His body. Your church is moving forward everywhere as a living temple of the Holy Spirit.
Great God and King, You have provided leaders and servants in Your church, serving at the pleasure of Your Son. Each one has a special role to play. Each is known to You, and has been equipped by You for this service. Help us to train up the next generation of church leaders and workers, that they might move ahead in the plans that You have for Your people after our days here have been completed. You have given us rest through the blood of Your Son. The matters of Your church are most important to us, for Your church is an earthly outpost of Your heavenly Kingdom. Make us faithful in our duties as an expression of our love for You.
Merciful God, we have a great High Priest over Your house forever, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is true man and yet also eternal God. He does not need to be replaced, for He will never be removed from His office. He performs amazing works of worship and blessing. Through Him our worship is offered perfectly to You. Through Him also sure words of blessing are spoken upon Your church, that we might live and prosper in Your service forever. We are a part of the priestly league of the faithful through Your Son. Help us to understand our right role as those who worship You, receive Your blessing, and extend Your benediction throughout the earth. May Your church bring the message of redemption through Your Son wherever men live and move and have their being.
Glorious Lord, we want to make a glad noise to You day by day. Is it pleasing to You when Your people sing to You from the heart? You need nothing, yet You inhabit the praises of Your people. May our families sing to You with great joy. Grant to Your church integrity, desire, and skill, all useful for our service of worship. Help us to focus on you, and not on ourselves or the gifts that You have given us. Help us to remember that it is Your most excellent goodness that is so worthy of our fullest worship and praise.
Father God, in days of old You provided gatekeepers for Your temple and Your holy city. From the time of Adam’s fall You have acted upon the necessity of setting a guard to keep people out from Your immediate presence, and to protect all who are so perfectly safe in Your heavenly temple. Thank You for the work of Your holy angels, whom You have appointed as servants to the heirs of salvation. Thank You also for the ministry of Your deacons, who work hard for You and Your people. They watch over all the facilities and finances of Your assembly here on earth and care for the needs of the poor. They lead many in performing important tasks of mercy throughout Your Kingdom. We also thank You for those You have raised up for order, truth, justice, and beauty in the world all around us. Blessed be Your Name, for You are a God who provides for decency and goodness among the affairs of Your church and more generally throughout the world.
Glorious God, there has always been a need for leadership, order, and even for military protection since sin entered into the world. We appreciate those who put themselves in dangerous situations in order to help with the security of our families, Your church, and the nations where we now sojourn. Help us to place our trust in You alone, rather than in the strength of men. Armies serve us with courage and diligence, but they cannot lead us home to our heavenly habitation. Grant us those who will serve with integrity and maturity in these important positions. As our young men move to the age of adult duties, we pray that you will help them through this time of transition. Provide excellent advisors and leaders as Your church moves forward with her mission. Teach us to follow our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to attend to His Word with a ready heart.
Glorious God, You have assembled us together for worship and instruction. Your Son gave instructions to His disciples before His ascension on high. He spoke as our great King. It is ours to obey. Let us be about the work that He has graciously given us. We are to build up His holy temple, not a building of stone or wood, but a dwelling place for You made up of people who have been granted spiritual life. Help us day by day in our work together of making disciples for Your Son. You are with us. You will not leave us nor forsake us. Gather to Your church willing people who have skill for service that we might work together with joy.
Great God, You will build Your holy temple. We provide our efforts and gifts as we are able, but unless You build the house, we would surely labor in vain. We ask that You would use the works of our hands and the gifts of our hearts. Build up Your temple with the rich blessing of people created in Your image. You are great, O Lord. You rule over all, and You can bring us into Your house forever. Who are we? All things come from You. We turn away from all foolish pride. All that we have given You has first come to us through Your gracious hand. Grant that Your people would love and serve You with full hearts. May we bless Your name forever. Thank You for the perfect sacrifice of Your Son, through whom we serve You day by day. Blessed be Your Name forever, for You have provided for Your church the best King ever known among men. We worship You now through Him who is our Lord and is also Your beloved Son.