Jealousy fears displacement.  Un-returned love stirs jealousy.  The Lord desires that we be devoted to Him the way He is to us.

The prophet Zechariah identified occasions that stirred the Lord’s jealousy over His people such as when they fasted ceremonially, their hearts and minds were not on Him. When they feasted, they were thinking only of themselves.

God’s love to us through Christ deserves our whole-hearted devotion.  Let His true praise be continually on our lips.  Let His Word be continually in our mind.  This is the devoted love He desires and deserves.  This is the most rewarding lifestyle we can live.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, there is none like You. Gratefully, we give our lives to You today to serve Your purposes. We love You above all else.

DAILY READING:  Zechariah 7-14

” … And I will return to you.”  So were the opening words of Zechariah, the great Messianic prophet.

This is not a complex solution to problems.  It’s very simple, and yet we seem to make it so difficult.

God provides this simple solution to every challenge of life, to every decision that tries to confuse us, to every illness that tries to decay us, and to every sin that tries to destroy us.

The Lord is as close as the mention of HIs name in prayer, as close as the opening of His Word to read.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we come to You.  We cry out for Your intervention in our lives to heal us, to restore us, to correct us, and to direct us.

DAILY READING: Haggai;  Zechariah 1-6

Zephaniah also gave a bristling account of judgment to come on those who defied God’s ways by hypocrisy or outright riotous living.  The day of the Lord’s anger being poured out was described by unthinkable devastation.  It’s good to fear the Lord.

Yet, for those who “Seek the Lord, who are humble, and follow His commands,” some of the most glowing descriptions of God’s joy in His people are given.  Such contrast.  Through Christ Jesus, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, though You are capable of great judgment and destruction, You are more-so capable of great love and redemption.  We hope in Your mercy through Jesus.

DAILY READING:  Zephaniah 1-3

Troubled by the injustice he saw, this prophet poured out his complaint to the Lord.  God responded by saying the wicked will eventually be judged and righteousness will prevail.

In God, judgement may not come when we think it should, but it always comes.  God may be slow, but He’s never late.

What are you waiting/asking for?  Your response from God is already in the pipeline!

Habakkuk’s famous words were, “Though the fig tree does not blossom, and there be no grapes on the vine … (he lists many challenges of life) … [but] yet will I rejoice in the Lord!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.  God, the Lord, is my strength.”  [Hab. 3]

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, forgive us for being so impatient with Your answers.  You see all as it truly is, and we trust Your timing.

DAILY READING:  Habakkuk 1-3

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: