To conclude his prophecy, Micah reveals God’s heart of mercy:

Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
¹⁹ You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we hope in Your merciful nature to faithfully nurture us back to spiritual health, no matter what the challenge.

DAILY READING:  Micah 7;  Nahum 1-3

Mentioned in Jonah, chapter 2, the prophet was finally expelled from the belly of the fish WHEN he remembered to be grateful.,

Many years ago, I was in what I considered despair.  In the middle of the night, with a bad headache, and what I thought were consequential challenges (?!?), I recollect reaching out to the Lord.  My eye focused on a finger, which occurred to be healthy, attached to a healthy arm, and the rest of my body.  I began thanking the Lord for my wonderful wife laying next to me etc.  It precipitated a sequence of things to be grateful for.  BAM.  The despair was GONE!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for Your goodness to us.  Forgive us for our ingratitude and self-pity.

DAILY READING:  Micah 1-5

To Obadiah was given the message, “God judges those who harm His people.”  Specifically, the Edomites who lived in the mountainous region southeast of Jerusalem mercilessly despised God’s people and were harshest when the Jews were down.  Hence, God’s record keeping demanded retribution.

The Edomites were destroyed, but Israel restored.  What was done to God’s people was turned back upon their enemies.

The Lord watches His people closely and their enemies will taste his wrath.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You are our protector.  As You watched over Israel, You will guard the saints, members of Your body, the church.

DAILY READING:  Obadiah 1;  Jonah 1-4

Although Amos’ message was predominantly a harsh, judgmental one, he expressed one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible, that of the glorious future God has planned for His people.  Chapter 9 refers to a restoration of David’s house.  Jesus was a direct descendant of David, and will usher in a kingdom where God will have the relationship with his people, both jew and gentile, that David did … even better in that Christ has come.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, today I stir myself to avoid complacency, and I humbly ask, bring a mighty revival and Holy Spirit outpouring to Your church.

DAILY READING:  Amos 6-9

To Amos was given the message of God’s severe judgments for the rebellion of His people.  On several occasions, the prophet referred to God’s sovereignty, as if addressing the challenge, “Why would God do that?”

He clarifies the scope of God’s right to bring correction to His creation by saying,

He who forms the mountains,
    who creates the wind,
    and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
    and treads on the heights of the earth—
    the Lord God Almighty is his name.

We are so blessed that God’s mercy through Christ Jesus triumphs over his judgment.

DAILY PRAYER;  Father in Heaven, we entrust our lives to Your mercy.  We are Yourpeople, the sheep of Your pasture.  Thank You for Jesus, our loving Shepherd.

DAILY READING:  Amos  1-5

Through the prophet Joel, God describes the devastation he brings because His people violate His laws and ways and serve idols.  He also identifies the formula for returning to His ways:

Hosea declared one of the classic verses of the entire Bible when he said,

“Sow righteousness for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
    for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness on you.”

Giving yourself each morning to the spiritual disciplines of bible study and prayer is an effective way to implement this admonition.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, as David said, “My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning,” I too resolve to seek You at the beginning of every day.

DAILY READING:  Hosea10-4

In the heart of Hosea’s message of judgement against Israel, we find the expression, “I long to redeem them.”  Regardless of His people’s rebellion and sin, God’s desire was still to right the wrongs and get them back on track.  It pains Him when His people suffer because of their wrongdoing.

In whatever distress we find ourselves, it is God’s nature to want to redeem us.  There is a price to pay for our redemption, and that price has already been paid by Christ Jesus.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, I lift my needs to You today.  Redeem me from my plight.  Have mercy upon me.  In Jesus’ name.

DAILY READING:  Hosea 5-9

To Daniel was given a description of the end times.  His writings have given us critical insight into God’s strategy for the conclusions of times.  The exciting part for believers is the hope we have of eternal life with the Lord.

As one who has been given a terminal illness diagnosis, I find great hope in my future because of a reward the Lord has prepared for those who have accepted salvation through Christ Jesus.

“Eye hasn’t seen, ear hasn’t heard, it hasn’t even entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him.”

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, we trust You for our eternal future.  You have all things in Your control.

DAILY READING:  Dan. 12, Hosea 1-4

Daniel identified with the sins of the Hebrew people by confessing the sins of the nation.  It was as if he personally was guilty of the violation of God’s laws.  He concluded his intercessory prayer by stating, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

In like manner, Jesus took upon Himself the totality of our sin to show us the ultimate act of God’s mercy when He died in our place.  Merciful Savior, can it be?

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we are so grateful to live in the forgiveness You provided on the cross of Calvary.  We humble ourselves under Your mighty hand today.

DAILY READING:  Dan. 9-11