One of the pivotal passages in the Bible is Joel chapter 2. Peter quotes from it in his address to the early church as being relevant to us even today.

A formula for returning to God is cited here in verse 12: “therefore … says the Lord,
turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

These disciplines are not popular and certainly don’t get much promotion in the ultra seeker-sensitive movement popular in today’s churches. Nevertheless, this is God’s Word instructing His people how to get His attention. What hinders us?

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we humbly cry out to You to heal our hearts, heal our land, heal our churches, and bring revival. Let it begin in us.

DAILY READING: Joel 2

The practice of spending time crying out in prayer to the Lord seems to have been displaced by the fast-food mentality we now have. Lost is the discipline of waiting. We will work out for hours a day, yet think it excessive and unnecessary to spend more than fleeting minutes in prayer and fellowship with the Lord’s Spirit.

How long has it been since we’ve prayed through the night? When have we last fasted a meal for spiritual purposes.

Again, we hear, “It is time to seek the Lord until He rain righteousness upon us.” Hos. 10:12

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, grace us to restore the lost art and discipline of prevailing prayer.   Forgive us for allowing conflicting values and priorities to displace old-fashioned Holy Ghost prayer.

DAILY READING: Hosea 13,14;  Joel 1

A classic scriptural formula for God’s visitation is found in Hosea 10:11,12;

“Judah (praise) must plow,
    and Jacob (prayer) must break up the ground.
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground (hardness of heart);
    for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness on you.”

Personal and corporate praise and prayer are vital ingredients.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we are desperate for a visitation from Heaven. Come in Your mighty power and revive Your people and our nation.

DAILY READING: Hosea 10-12

Hosea’s message was clarified by his marriage to Gomer, a prostitute. God actually instructed him to marry her, unfaithfulness and all. Yet, through this unlikely union, God gave a message of restoration and unconditional love to his people. His desire all along was to draw His people back to Himself, in spite of their failings.

Jeremiah states this by saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn You.”

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, even though we have been unfaithful, You have been faithful. We trn to You because of Your unfailing love.

DAILY READING: Hosea 1-6

Daniel chapter 11 and 12 provide the most accurate and inclusive prophecies of the end time contained in the Bible. Upon reading available interpretations, it is evident that his accuracy was nothing short of miraculous. He was revealed these facts by the Lord Who knows the beginning from the end.

At the conclusion of his prophecy, Daniel was instructed to enter his rest in death, but ultimately arise from death to “receive [his] alloted inheritance.”

This is the hope we have of eternal life should we pass in death before the end of all times. God’s promise that we will “rise” is comforting.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we are overwhelmed with courage and hope because You are our God and protector. We trust our future to Your mighty hand. Grace us to be faithful servants while we yet have life and breath.

DAILY READING: Daniel 11,12

To Daniel was given this honored valuation by the angel who spoke to him of significant end-time events. Could it be because Daniel had demonstrated an exemplary devotion to God in his ritual prayer and fasting? He reverently placed pleasing God with his three-times-a-day prayer schedule above his fear of the lion’s den.

When God sees us, he sees the atoning life and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. As the Father said, “This is my Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased,” so also can we become joint-heirs of Christ’s promises from His Father. He loved us enough to die for us to purchase this privilege.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we want to prayer like Daniel. We covet Your blessing in our lives, and want to please You above all else.

DAILY READING: Daniel 9,10

To Daniel was given revealing insights into future events. One prominent leader identified in his prophetic dream was said to have power not of his own. It’s as if world leaders are pawns of greater powers. These leaders can’t be stopped by mere humans, but are all subject to the One Who has ALL POWER, the Lord Himself.

It is comforting to be under the protective care of the Lord. Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” [Jn. 16:33]

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we take refuge in You. We claim the promises of Psalm 91 and trust in the protection only You can offer.

DAILY READING: Daniel 6-8

The three Hebrew young men who were compatriots of Daniel refused to bow and worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar erected and were cast into a fiery furnace as punishment. The Lord preserved them and honored their courage. The power of their God was evident to all. They were bold in their profession of faith.

Miracles are in store for those who take a stand for Christ and don’t cave in to the pressures of society and culture. God can protect His people from all danger.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we trust You when we are persecuted. Your power is above all. We will not bow down to idols.

DAILY READING: Daniel 3,4

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had a troubling dream that he didn’t remember nor understand. God supernaturally revealed both the dream and its meaning to a young Hebrew boy named Daniel.  This act both elevated Daniel to a very high position of leadership and gave prophetic insight into events to come.

Daniel and his three Hebrew friends had separated themselves unto the Lord’s purposes and entered a  dimension of supernatural understanding and favor apparent to all. The God Who knows and sees all is near to those who draw near to Him and still gives supernatural insight and wisdom to those who separate themselves unto Him.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we wait in Your presence for daily insight that equips us to serve You and those around us. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.

DAILY READING: Ezekiel 48; Daniel 1,2

Ezekiel saw a stream of water proceeding from the floor of the temple in his vision. This river began described as “water coming out.” It became deeper and deeper until it was deep enough to swim in.

In our spiritual journey, God introduces us to the flow of His Spirit and we begin learning how to relate to it. The further we go with Him in commitment, the deeper and more buoyed we become  in our relationship with Him. We experience an ability to stay floating and swimming in His river and are thereby carried by its current in the direction He wants us to go. The river bring life wherever it goes. We can live in that life in the Spirit.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, I want more than anything else to flow and swim in Your Spirit of Life. I want to be in Your river. I want to see life spring up wherever it goes.

DAILY READING: Ezekiel 47