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

Such was said about Daniel by those trying to discredit him.  His integrity, work ethic, and deportment were above reproach.  Finally, they had to coerce the king into manufacturing an ordinance that would expose Daniel’s allegiance to the real God. Even then, Daniel’s integrity and trust in God spared his life when he was thrown to the lions.

David declared that his integrity preserved him and kept his feet from falling when the shakings of life came.

Let’s give God lives of integrity, enabled by His grace.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I can’t do it by myself.  I need Your Spirit within to lead me into all truth that my walk is blameless.

DAILY READING:  Dan. 6-8

After Nebuchadnezzar had set up the 90 ft. tall golden image, he instructed all to bow when they heard the music.  The three Hebrew boys, however, didn’t and were cast into the fiery furnace.  In one of the outstanding miracles in the Bible, they were not consumed and had not even the smell of smoke upon their clothes.

We are hereby warned not to bow down to the allures of the day.  When we bow only to the Lord, He comes and manifests Himself to us the way the Hebrew boys were visited by the fourth man in the fire, which we believe was the pre-incarnate Christ Himself.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for showing Your power to the Hebrew boys.  Show Your power and presence to us also.

DAILY READING:  Dan. 3-5

Daniel saw an impressive image when God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him.  A gold head, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of a clay and iron mixture.  These elements represented future kingdoms, but he also saw a small rock not made by human hands.  That rock smashed the image and became so great that it filled the earth.

That rock was Jesus.  His kingdom is in process to overcome all others.  The kingdoms of this earth, they have become the Kingdoms of our LORD and of His Christ.  He shall reign forever.  Hallelujah!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord,Jesus, You are my rock, my foundation.  I trust You and will not fear my future because You are in control.

DAILY READING:  Dan. 1,2;  Matt. 24

Flowing from the temple he saw in his vision, Ezekiel described a stream of water that eventually became a river which he could not cross.  His guide in the vision declared, “Where the river flows everything will live.”

For whatever portion of your life that is dead or in need of healing, begin seeking the Lord.  Ask Him to let His river of life flow into your need.  He is the Life Giver.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I need Your River flowing into and over my life today.  Heal me, refresh me, keep me close to You in all that I think and do.

DAILY READING:  Ezek. 47, 48

Zadok was a priest who aided David when Absalom revolted.  He also anointed Solomon as king, and became his first High Priest.  His descendants were staunch opponents of paganism during Ezekiel’s ministry and were given special significance and privilege by the prophet because of their  faithfulness to the Lord.  They were the only priests God wanted to stand before him because all the others had given in to idolatry.

We are called to give this quality of devotion to the Lord, not bowing down to the attractive elements of life that try to pull us away from God.

DAILY PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, we want to worship only You.  Be our focus all day long.  Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.

DAILY READING:  Ezek. 44-6

Whereas the temple shown to Ezekiel in a vision never actually existed, what is it’s meaning?

To his contemporaries who had witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem, it was hope that God still wanted to be among them.  To us, it can point to the comforting truth that God wants to live in us, for we are told that we are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit.  He describes the glory of the Lord entering and filling the temple from the east.

Let God’s glory enter your temple today, and be filled with His Spirit.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, here is my temple for You to live in and fill.  I empty myself to give You room.

DAILY READING;  Ezek. 41-3