Category: Prayers

“When Jesus heard this, He withdrew by boat from there to a deserted place by Himself.” –Matthew 14:13 This was one of the worst days in Jesus’ life. He had just received the bad news that His friend and relative, St. John the Baptizer, had been beheaded. It was John who baptized Jesus in the Jordan (see Mt 3:13-16). He and Jesus had a special bond. Now John was dead, murdered, beheaded. Jesus had to get away, go off by Himself, and receive healing from His Father. He got in the boat and intended to go to a deserted place...

“All things are vanity!” –Ecclesiastes 1:2 King Solomon, who is credited with writing the book of Ecclesiastes, was one of the richest people in history (see 1 Kgs 10:14ff). He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kgs 11:3). He could get anything he wanted any time he wanted. Many people today are trying hard to become more like Solomon. They want to be able to relax “for years to come,” “eat heartily, drink well,” and enjoy themselves (Lk 12:19). Solomon, who ought to know, says they are fools (see Lk 12:20), for “all things are vanity!” (Eccl...

“When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the Lord bade Him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, ‘You must be put to death!’ ” –Jeremiah 26:8 Jeremiah knew he would be rejected and possibly killed when he prophesied that the Temple would be destroyed. Nevertheless, Jeremiah obeyed the Lord and spoke out. Jesus knew He would be without honor in His native place (Mt 13:57), but, in obedience to His Father, He went there anyway. We know that when we speak up for Jesus, we will suffer the consequences from our anti-Christian society....

“Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased.” –Jeremiah 18:4 God is the Potter, and we are the clay (Jer 18:6; Is 64:7). However, because we are living, free clay, we can choose not to cooperate with God. In that case, what the Potter is making turns out badly, and He will start over again (Jer 18:4). The Lord insists on quality (see 1 Cor 3:12-15). In fact, at the end of the world, lives of godly quality will...

“When I found Your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore Your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” –Jeremiah 15:16 Many of us find it hard to read the Bible, but the Lord wants us to eat the Bible, to consume, even devour it. “Not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). His Word is like honey from the comb (Ps 19:11), sweet at first although later soured by persecution (Rv 10:9-10). Nonetheless, God’s Word is still...