Day 244 of My 5th Bible Study Journey - 1 September 2025 reflections
Day 244, 1 September 2025
Welcome to Labour Day in North America .
1) Lamentations 1,2,3
Lamentations 1
The Sorrows of Jerusalem
1 (1Ki 4:21; Ezr 4:20) How lonely sits the city
that was full of people!
How she has become like a widow,
who was once great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
has become a slave!
2 (Ps 6:6; Mic 7:5) She weeps sorely in the night,
her tears are on her cheeks;
among all her lovers
she has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
they have become her enemies.
3 (Dt 28:64-67; La 2:9) Judah has gone into captivity,
under affliction and great servitude;
she dwells among the nations,
she finds no rest;
all her persecutors overtook her
in the midst of distress.
4 (Jer 9:11; Joel 1:8-13) The roads to Zion mourn
because no one comes to the solemn feasts.
All her gates are desolate;
her priests sigh,
her virgins are afflicted,
and she herself suffers bitterly.
5 (Ps 90:7-8; Jer 30:14-15) Her adversaries have become her masters,
her enemies prosper;
for the Lord has afflicted her
because of the multitude of her transgressions.
Her children have gone into captivity
before the enemy.
6 From the daughter of Zion
all her beauty has departed.
Her princes have become like deer
that find no pasture;
they fled without strength
before the pursuer.
7 (Ps 42:4; 77:5-9) In the days of her affliction and misery
Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant things
that she had in the days of old.
When her people fell into the hand of the enemy,
there was no one to help her.
The adversaries saw her
and mocked at her desolation.
8 (Isa 59:2-13; La 1:20-22) Jerusalem has sinned grievously;
therefore she has become vile.
All who honored her despise her,
for they have seen her nakedness;
she herself sighs
and turns away.
9 (Dt 32:29; Isa 47:7) Her uncleanness is in her skirts;
she took no thought of her future;
therefore her fall is astounding;
she has no comforter.
"O Lord, look upon my affliction,
for the enemy has triumphed!"
10 (Dt 23:3; Jer 51:51) The adversary has spread his hand
over all her precious things;
for she has seen the nations
enter her sanctuary,
those whom You commanded
not to enter Your congregation.
11 (Jer 52:6; 38:9) All her people groan,
as they search for bread;
they trade their treasures for food
to restore their strength.
Look, O Lord, and consider,
for I am despised.
12 (Da 9:12) Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look and see
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,
which was brought upon me,
which the Lord has inflicted
on the day of His fierce anger.
13 (Job 30:30; Hab 3:16) From on high He has sent fire into my bones,
and it prevailed against them;
He has spread a net for my feet;
He turned me back;
He has made me desolate
and faint all the day long.
14 (Dt 28:48; Isa 47:6) The yoke of my transgressions
was bound; by His hand
they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck.
He made my strength fail;
the Lord delivered me into the hands
of those whom I am not able to withstand.
15 (Isa 28:18; 63:3) The Lord has trampled underfoot
all my mighty men in my midst;
He has called an assembly against me
to crush my young men;
The Lord has trodden the virgin daughter of Judah
as in a winepress.
16 (La 1:2; Jer 13:17) For these things I weep;
my eyes flow with tears;
for the comforter, who should relieve my soul,
is far from me.
My children are desolate
for the enemy has prevailed.
17 (Jer 4:31; Isa 1:15) Zion spreads out her hands,
but there is no one to comfort her;
the Lord has commanded against Jacob
that his neighbors should be his adversaries;
Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.
18 (1Sa 12:14-15; Jer 12:1) The Lord is in the right,
for I have rebelled against His commandment.
Hear now, all peoples,
and see my sorrow;
my virgins and my young men
have gone into captivity.
19 (La 1:2; 1:11) I called for my lovers,
but they deceived me;
my priests and my elders
perished in the city,
while they sought food
to restore their strength.
20 (La 2:11; Dt 32:25) Look, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my soul is greatly troubled;
my heart is overturned within me,
for I have grievously rebelled.
In the street the sword bereaves,
at home it is like death.
21 (La 1:8; Jer 50:11) They have heard my groaning,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that You have done it.
Bring the day that You have announced,
that they become like me.
22 (Ne 4:4-5; Ps 109:14-15) Let all their wickedness come before You,
and do to them
as You have done to me
for all my transgressions;
for my groans are many,
and my heart is faint.
[1] How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people how is she
become as a widow she that was was great among the nations, and princess
among the provinces, how is she become tributary
[2] She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among
all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt
treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
[3] Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great
servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her
persecutors overtook her between the straits.
[4] The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all
her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and
she is in bitterness.
[5] Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath
afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are
gone into captivity before the enemy.
[6] And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes
are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without
strength before the pursuer.
[7] Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries
all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people
fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw
her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
[8] Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that
honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she
sigheth, and turneth backward.
[9] Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end;
therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my
affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
[10] The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things:
for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou
didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
[11] All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant
things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am
become vile.
[12] Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be
any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD
hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
[13] From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against
them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made
me desolate and faint all the day.
[14] The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed,
and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath
delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
[15] The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me:
he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath
trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
[16] For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water,
because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my
children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
[17] Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the
LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round
about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
[18] The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment:
hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young
men are gone into captivity.
[19] I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine
elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to
relieve their souls.
[20] Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine
heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword
bereaveth, at home there is as death.
[21] They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine
enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou
wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
[22] Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou
hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my
heart is faint.
Lamentations 2
The Anger of God Over Jerusalem
1 (Ps 99:5; 132:7) How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion
with a cloud in His anger!
He has cast down from heaven to the earth
the beauty of Israel;
He has not remembered His footstool
in the day of His anger.
2 (Ps 89:39-40; La 2:17) The Lord has swallowed up without mercy
all the habitations of Jacob;
In His wrath He has thrown down
the strongholds of the daughter of Judah;
He has brought them down to the ground;
He has profaned the kingdom and its princes.
3 (Ps 74:11; 75:5) He has cut off in fierce anger
all the might of Israel;
He has drawn back His right hand
from before the enemy.
He has burned against Jacob
like a flaming fire, devouring all around.
4 (Isa 42:25; Jer 7:20) He has bent His bow like an enemy,
with his right hand set like an adversary;
He has killed all who were pleasant to His eye;
in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion,
He has poured out His fury like fire.
5 (La 2:2; Jer 30:14) The Lord has become like an enemy;
He has swallowed up Israel,
He has swallowed up all her palaces;
He has destroyed her strongholds,
and has increased mourning and lamentation
in the daughter of Judah.
6 (La 1:4; Zep 3:18) He has violently taken away His tabernacle
as if it were a garden;
He has destroyed His place of assembly;
the Lord has caused the solemn feasts and Sabbaths
to be forgotten in Zion.
In his fierce indignation He has despised the king and the priest.
7 (Ps 74:3-8; 78:59-61) The Lord has scorned His altar,
He has disowned His sanctuary;
He has given up the walls of her palaces
into the hand of the enemy.
They have made a noise in the house of the Lord
as on the day of a solemn feast.
8 (2Ki 21:13; Isa 3:26) The Lord has purposed to destroy
the wall of the daughter of Zion.
He has stretched out a line;
He has not withdrawn His hand from destroying;
therefore He caused the rampart and the wall to lament;
they languished together.
9 (Ne 1:3; Hos 3:4) Her gates have sunk into the ground;
He has destroyed and broken her bars.
Her king and her princes are among the nations;
the Law is no more,
and her prophets find
no vision from the Lord.
10 (Isa 3:26; Job 2:12-13) The elders of the daughter of Zion
sit on the ground in silence;
they throw dust on their heads
and gird themselves with sackcloth.
The virgins of Jerusalem
bow their heads to the ground.
11 (Job 16:13; La 1:16) My eyes fail with tears,
my spirit is greatly troubled;
my bile is poured on the ground
because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because the children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.
12 They say to their mothers,
"Where is grain and wine?"
when they faint like a wounded man
in the streets of the city,
as their life is poured out
on their mothers' bosom.
13 (La 1:12; 2Sa 5:20) What can I say for you,
to what shall I liken you,
O daughter of Jerusalem?
What shall I compare with you,
that I may comfort you,
O virgin daughter of Zion?
For your devastation is great like the sea;
who can heal you?
14 (Isa 58:1; Jer 5:31) Your prophets have seen for you
false and deceptive visions;
they have not revealed your iniquity,
to bring back your captives,
but have seen for you oracles
that are false and misleading.
15 (Ps 48:2; Jer 18:16) All who pass by
clap their hands at you;
they hiss and shake their heads
at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying,
"Is this the city that men call
the perfection of beauty,
the joy of the whole earth?"
16 (Ps 35:21; La 3:46) All your enemies
have opened their mouth against you;
they hiss and gnash their teeth.
They say, "We have swallowed her up!
Certainly this is the day that we longed for;
we have found it; we have seen it."
17 (Ps 89:42; Eze 5:11) The Lord has done what He planned;
He has fulfilled His word
that He had commanded in the days of old.
He has thrown down and has not pitied,
and He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you;
He has exalted the power of your adversaries.
18 (Ps 119:145; Jer 9:1) Their heart cried to the Lord:
O wall of the daughter of Zion,
let your tears run down
like a river day and night;
give yourself no rest,
your eyes no respite!
19 (Ps 62:8; 1Sa 1:15; Isa 26:9) Arise, cry out in the night,
at the beginning of the watches;
pour out your heart like water
before the face of the Lord.
Lift your hands to Him
for the lives of your young children,
who faint for hunger
at the head of every street.
20 (Jer 19:9; La 4:10) Look, O Lord, and consider!
To whom have You done this?
Should the women eat their offspring,
the children who were born healthy?
Should the priest and the prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 (2Ch 36:17; Jer 13:14) The young and the old lie
on the ground in the streets;
my virgins and my young men
have fallen by the sword;
You have killed them in the day of Your anger,
You have slaughtered and not pitied.
22 (Jer 6:25; Ps 31:13) You have invited as to a feast day
the terrors all around;
in the day of the Lord's anger
no one escaped or survived;
those whom I held and raised
my enemy destroyed.
Lamentations 2
[1] How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his
anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and
remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!
[2] The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not
pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of
Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom
and the princes thereof.
[3] He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath
drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob
like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.
[4] He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an
adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of
the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
[5] The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed
up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased
in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
[6] And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a
garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused
the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath
despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
[7] The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he
hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have
made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
[8] The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he
hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying:
therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished
together.
[9] Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her
bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more;
her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.
[10] The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep
silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded
themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to
the ground.
[11] Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is
poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people;
because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
[12] They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as
the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into
their mothers' bosom.
[13] What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken
to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may
comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the
sea: who can heal thee?
[14] Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have
not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for
thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
[15] All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head
at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The
perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
[16] All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and
gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the
day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
[17] The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his
word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath
not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set
up the horn of thine adversaries.
[18] Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let
tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not
the apple of thine eye cease.
[19] Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out
thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward
him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of
every street.
[20] Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the
women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the
prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
[21] The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and
my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of
thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.
[22] Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in
the day of the LORD's anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have
swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.
Lamentations 3
The Prophet's Anguish
1 (Ps 88:7; Job 19:21) I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of His wrath.
2 (Job 30:26; Isa 59:9) He has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light.
3 Surely against me has He turned His hand
continually, the whole day long.
4 (Ps 51:8; Isa 38:13) My flesh and my skin He has made waste away;
He has broken my bones;
5 (La 3:19; Jer 23:15) He has besieged and enveloped me
with gall and travail.
6 (Ps 88:5-6; 143:3) He has set me in dark places,
like the dead of long ago.
7 (Job 3:23; 19:8) He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out;
He has made my chain heavy.
8 (Job 30:20; Ps 22:2) Even when I cry for help, He shuts out my prayer.
9 (Isa 63:17) He has blocked my ways with hewn stone;
He has made my paths crooked.
10 He is to me a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding.
11 (Hos 6:1; Job 16:12-13) He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces;
He has made me desolate.
12 (Job 7:20; Ps 38:2) He has bent His bow
and set me as a target for the arrow.
13 (Job 6:4) He has caused the arrows of His quiver to pierce my inward parts.
14 (Jer 20:7; La 3:63) I have become the derision of all my people,
their mocking song all the day.
15 (Jer 9:15) He has filled me with bitterness,
He has sated me with wormwood.
16 (Pr 20:17; Jer 6:26) He has made my teeth grind on gravel,
and covered me with ashes.
17 (Isa 59:11) My soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten prosperity.
18 (Job 17:15; Eze 37:11) So I say, "My strength and my hope
from the Lord have perished."
19 (La 3:5; 3:15) Remember my affliction and my misery,
the wormwood and the gall.
20 (Ps 42:5-6; 42:11) Surely my soul remembers and is humbled within me.
21 (Ps 130:7) But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 (Mal 3:6; Ps 78:38) It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed;
His compassions do not fail.
23 (Zep 3:5; Ps 36:5) They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
24 (Ps 16:5; 73:26) "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in Him."
25 (Isa 25:9; 30:18) The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
26 (Ps 37:7; 130:5) It is good that a man should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 (Ecc 12:1) It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.
28 (Jer 15:17; La 2:10) Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;
29 (Job 40:4) let him put his mouth in the dust-there may yet be hope.
30 (Isa 50:6; Job 16:10) Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,
and let him be filled with insults.
31 (Ps 94:14; 77:7) For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 (Ps 78:38; Hos 11:8) But though He causes grief,
yet He will have compassion according to the abundance of His mercies.
33 (Eze 33:11) For He does not afflict from His heart,
nor grieve the sons of men.
34 To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,
35 to turn aside the justice due a man in the presence of the Most High,
36 (Hab 1:13) to subvert a man in his cause, the Lord does not approve.
[1] I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
[2] He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
[3] Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
[4] My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
[5] He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
[6] He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
[7] He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain
heavy.
[8] Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
[9] He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
[10] He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
[11] He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me
desolate.
[12] He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
[13] He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
[14] I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
[15] He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
[16] He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me
with ashes.
[17] And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
[18] And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
[19] Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
[20] My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
[21] This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
[22] It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his
compassions fail not.
[23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
[24] The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
[25] The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh
him.
[26] It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the
salvation of the LORD.
[27] It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
[28] He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
[29] He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
[30] He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with
reproach.
[31] For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
[32] But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the
multitude of his mercies.
[33] For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
[34] To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
[35] To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
[36] To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 (Ps 33:9-11) Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 (Isa 45:7; Job 2:10) Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that good and bad proceed?
39 (Mic 7:9; Pr 19:3) Why should a living man complain,
a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 (Ps 119:59; 139:23-24) Let us search and try our ways,
and return to the Lord!
41 (Ps 25:1; 28:2) Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:
42 (2Ki 24:4; Ne 9:26) We have transgressed and rebelled;
You have not pardoned.
43 (La 2:21; 2:17; Ps 83:15) You have covered Yourself with anger
and pursued us; You have killed and not pitied.
44 (La 3:8; Ps 97:2) You have covered Yourself with a cloud,
so that no prayer should pass through.
45 (1Co 4:13) You have made us filthy refuse in the midst of the peoples.
46 (La 2:16; Ps 22:6-8) All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 (Isa 24:17-18; 51:19) Panic and snare have come upon us,
desolation and destruction.
48 (La 2:11; Ps 119:136) My eyes flow with rivers of tears
for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 (Jer 14:17; Ps 77:2) My eyes flow and do not cease, without respite,
50 (Isa 63:15; La 5:1) until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees.
51 My eyes bring suffering to my soul
at the fate of all the daughters of my city.
52 (Ps 35:7; 35:19) My enemies chased me like a bird, without cause.
53 (Jer 38:6; 38:9) They cut off my life in the pit and cast stones on me.
54 (Jnh 2:3-5; Eze 37:11) Waters flowed over my head; I said, "I am cut off!
55 I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.
56 (Ps 55:1; Job 34:28) You have heard my plea:
"Do not close Your ear to my cry for help!"
57 (Isa 41:10; Ps 145:18) You drew near on the day I called on You,
and You said, "Do not fear!"
58 (Jer 51:36) O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;
You have redeemed my life.
59 (Ps 26:1; 35:23) O Lord, You have seen the wrong done tome; judge my case.
60 (Jer 11:19-20) You have seen all their vengeance,
all their schemes against me.
61 (La 5:1; Ps 74:18) You have heard their reproach, O Lord,
all their schemes against me,
62 (Eze 36:3; Ps 59:7) the lips of my enemies and
their devices against me all the day.
63 (Ps 139:2; La 3:14) Look at their sitting down and their rising up;
I am their mocking song.
64 (Ps 28:4; Jer 11:20) Render to them a recompense, O Lord,
according to the work of their hands.
65 (Isa 6:10; Dt 2:30) Give them hardness of heart;
may Your curse be upon them!
66 (Ps 8:3; Dt 25:19) In Your anger pursue and destroy them
from under Your heavens, O Lord!
[37] Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth
it not?
[38] Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
[39] Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his
sins?
[40] Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
[41] Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
[42] We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
[43] Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou
hast not pitied.
[44] Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass
through.
[45] Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the
people.
[46] All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
[47] Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
[48] Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the
daughter of my people.
[49] Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
[50] Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
[51] Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
[52] Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
[53] They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
[54] Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
[55] I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
[56] Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
[57] Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst,
Fear not.
[58] O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my
life.
[59] O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
[60] Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
[61] Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations
against me;
[62] The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me
all the day.
[63] Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
[64] Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their
hands.
[65] Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
[66] Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
2) Our Daily Bread for 1 September 2025 Titled
Wishing for Joy by Tim Gustafson
1 John 1:1-4
The Word of Life
1 (Jn 20:27; Lk 24:39; Ac 4:20) That which was from the beginning, which
we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life-
2 (Jn 1:4; 1Jn 5:20; 3:5) the life was revealed, and we have seen it
and testify to it, and announce to you the eternal life, which was with
the Father and was revealed to us-
3 (1Co 1:9; 1Jn 1:1; Php 2:1) we declare to you that which we have seen
and heard, that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship
is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 (Jn 15:11; 16:24) We are writing these things to you so that our joy may
be complete.
[1] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,
of the Word of life;
[2] (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and
shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
manifested unto us;)
[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may
have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ.
[4] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
In her blog post "Regrets of the Dying," Bronnie Ware outlines regrets she
heard as a nurse caring for the terminally ill. Among them were "I wish I
hadn't worked so hard" and "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends."
Perhaps most intriguing: "I wish that I had let myself be happier."
"Facing our own inevitable death is a fabulous tool for joy-filled living,"
Ware writes. That's sound advice, but what is the source of such joy?
Where do we find ultimate meaning?
As a young man, John the disciple held a distorted view of life's purpose.
He and his brother asked Jesus, "Let one of us sit at your right
and the other at your left in your glory" (Mark 10:37).
Their request only sparked dissension among the disciples (v. 41).
Decades later John held a drastically different view - one of love
and community in Jesus. John saw Jesus' life, death, and resurrection
as foundational to everything. "We proclaim to you the eternal life,"
he wrote (1 John 1:2). John told us about Jesus so that "you also may have
fellowship with us" (v. 3). Then he added, "Our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We write this to make our joy complete" (vv. 3-4).
Life can bring regrets. Jesus invites us to exchange
them for the complete joy only He can give.
Reflect & Pray
What regrets do you have? What’s keeping you from letting Jesus make your joy complete?
Heavenly Father, I regret ____________.
Please step into this pain in my life.
I need the joy that comes from being united with You.
For further study,
read Origin Story: Following Jesus Back to the Beginning.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 2 - Due Season
Gal 6:9
9 And let us not grow weary in doing good,
for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Jackie's preschool class took on an exciting project: they were going to grow
flowers from seeds, Each child took the seed, planted it carefully in the
bedding soil, watered, and waited. But Jackie couldn't wait. Every day
for a week he ran to the window box, looked for his plants, poked, prodded,
unplanted the seeds and then planted them again. "It's no use,"
he pouted after the first week. "Nothing's gonna grow in there."
We live in an instant society - microwave dinners, quick fixes, easy answers.
We are conditioned by our environment to expect - even to demand -
immediate response, and when we have to wait,
we become impatient and irritable.
Paul's exhortation to the Galatians, "Let us not become weary in doing good,"
is as appropriate for twentieth-century believers as it was for the new church
at Galatia. We lose motivation when we don't see results,
and weariness sets in.
If our work does not seem to be producing as we hope, we want to abandon it
and move on to a new project.
But God says, "You will reap a harvest if you don't give up." We give up too
soon in our prayers for a loved one's salvation. We abandon hope too readily
when we don't see spiritual growth in our own lives, when our investment in
another's spiritual maturity seems to have no return. The Lord says,
"The harvest is coming; be patient; trust me."
In due season the harvest comes; when it's the right time. When the seed has
had time to germinate, when the roots are string enough, when the conditions
are right, the reaping time will come. But we must be willing to wait for
the due season, the moment of ripeness, when our labor brings its return.
Application
a) Have I ever felt that my spiritual labours have produced no harvest at all?
b) What does it mean to my own spiritual growth that there is a "due season"
for reaping the harvest?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
1st Day of the month
1) Pray for an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on Canada
(
Joel 2:28 And it will be that, afterwards,
I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream
dreams, and your young men will see visions.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon
all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Acts 2:17 "In the last days it shall be," says God, "
that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream
dreams.
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams:
)
2) Pray that the heart of our Prime Minister
would be directed to do that which pleases God
(Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,
as the rivers of water; He turns it to any place He will.
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,
As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray a prayer on intervention for your Nation.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, I regret ____________.
Please step into this pain in my life.
I need the joy that comes from being united with You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord works with you in due season.
Pray to the Lord and pray that your work reflects the will of the Lord.
Pray to the Lord and pray to knwo the Salvation and the presence of the Lord.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on Canada
Pray that the heart of our Prime Minister
would be directed to do that which pleases God
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
Welcome to Labour Day in North America .
1) Lamentations 1,2,3
Lamentations 1
The Sorrows of Jerusalem
1 (1Ki 4:21; Ezr 4:20) How lonely sits the city
that was full of people!
How she has become like a widow,
who was once great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
has become a slave!
2 (Ps 6:6; Mic 7:5) She weeps sorely in the night,
her tears are on her cheeks;
among all her lovers
she has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
they have become her enemies.
3 (Dt 28:64-67; La 2:9) Judah has gone into captivity,
under affliction and great servitude;
she dwells among the nations,
she finds no rest;
all her persecutors overtook her
in the midst of distress.
4 (Jer 9:11; Joel 1:8-13) The roads to Zion mourn
because no one comes to the solemn feasts.
All her gates are desolate;
her priests sigh,
her virgins are afflicted,
and she herself suffers bitterly.
5 (Ps 90:7-8; Jer 30:14-15) Her adversaries have become her masters,
her enemies prosper;
for the Lord has afflicted her
because of the multitude of her transgressions.
Her children have gone into captivity
before the enemy.
6 From the daughter of Zion
all her beauty has departed.
Her princes have become like deer
that find no pasture;
they fled without strength
before the pursuer.
7 (Ps 42:4; 77:5-9) In the days of her affliction and misery
Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant things
that she had in the days of old.
When her people fell into the hand of the enemy,
there was no one to help her.
The adversaries saw her
and mocked at her desolation.
8 (Isa 59:2-13; La 1:20-22) Jerusalem has sinned grievously;
therefore she has become vile.
All who honored her despise her,
for they have seen her nakedness;
she herself sighs
and turns away.
9 (Dt 32:29; Isa 47:7) Her uncleanness is in her skirts;
she took no thought of her future;
therefore her fall is astounding;
she has no comforter.
"O Lord, look upon my affliction,
for the enemy has triumphed!"
10 (Dt 23:3; Jer 51:51) The adversary has spread his hand
over all her precious things;
for she has seen the nations
enter her sanctuary,
those whom You commanded
not to enter Your congregation.
11 (Jer 52:6; 38:9) All her people groan,
as they search for bread;
they trade their treasures for food
to restore their strength.
Look, O Lord, and consider,
for I am despised.
12 (Da 9:12) Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look and see
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,
which was brought upon me,
which the Lord has inflicted
on the day of His fierce anger.
13 (Job 30:30; Hab 3:16) From on high He has sent fire into my bones,
and it prevailed against them;
He has spread a net for my feet;
He turned me back;
He has made me desolate
and faint all the day long.
14 (Dt 28:48; Isa 47:6) The yoke of my transgressions
was bound; by His hand
they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck.
He made my strength fail;
the Lord delivered me into the hands
of those whom I am not able to withstand.
15 (Isa 28:18; 63:3) The Lord has trampled underfoot
all my mighty men in my midst;
He has called an assembly against me
to crush my young men;
The Lord has trodden the virgin daughter of Judah
as in a winepress.
16 (La 1:2; Jer 13:17) For these things I weep;
my eyes flow with tears;
for the comforter, who should relieve my soul,
is far from me.
My children are desolate
for the enemy has prevailed.
17 (Jer 4:31; Isa 1:15) Zion spreads out her hands,
but there is no one to comfort her;
the Lord has commanded against Jacob
that his neighbors should be his adversaries;
Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.
18 (1Sa 12:14-15; Jer 12:1) The Lord is in the right,
for I have rebelled against His commandment.
Hear now, all peoples,
and see my sorrow;
my virgins and my young men
have gone into captivity.
19 (La 1:2; 1:11) I called for my lovers,
but they deceived me;
my priests and my elders
perished in the city,
while they sought food
to restore their strength.
20 (La 2:11; Dt 32:25) Look, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my soul is greatly troubled;
my heart is overturned within me,
for I have grievously rebelled.
In the street the sword bereaves,
at home it is like death.
21 (La 1:8; Jer 50:11) They have heard my groaning,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that You have done it.
Bring the day that You have announced,
that they become like me.
22 (Ne 4:4-5; Ps 109:14-15) Let all their wickedness come before You,
and do to them
as You have done to me
for all my transgressions;
for my groans are many,
and my heart is faint.
[1] How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people how is she
become as a widow she that was was great among the nations, and princess
among the provinces, how is she become tributary
[2] She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among
all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt
treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
[3] Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great
servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her
persecutors overtook her between the straits.
[4] The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all
her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and
she is in bitterness.
[5] Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath
afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are
gone into captivity before the enemy.
[6] And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes
are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without
strength before the pursuer.
[7] Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries
all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people
fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw
her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
[8] Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that
honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she
sigheth, and turneth backward.
[9] Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end;
therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my
affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
[10] The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things:
for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou
didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
[11] All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant
things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am
become vile.
[12] Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be
any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD
hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
[13] From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against
them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made
me desolate and faint all the day.
[14] The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed,
and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath
delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
[15] The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me:
he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath
trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
[16] For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water,
because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my
children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
[17] Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the
LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round
about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
[18] The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment:
hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young
men are gone into captivity.
[19] I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine
elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to
relieve their souls.
[20] Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine
heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword
bereaveth, at home there is as death.
[21] They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine
enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou
wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
[22] Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou
hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my
heart is faint.
Lamentations 2
The Anger of God Over Jerusalem
1 (Ps 99:5; 132:7) How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion
with a cloud in His anger!
He has cast down from heaven to the earth
the beauty of Israel;
He has not remembered His footstool
in the day of His anger.
2 (Ps 89:39-40; La 2:17) The Lord has swallowed up without mercy
all the habitations of Jacob;
In His wrath He has thrown down
the strongholds of the daughter of Judah;
He has brought them down to the ground;
He has profaned the kingdom and its princes.
3 (Ps 74:11; 75:5) He has cut off in fierce anger
all the might of Israel;
He has drawn back His right hand
from before the enemy.
He has burned against Jacob
like a flaming fire, devouring all around.
4 (Isa 42:25; Jer 7:20) He has bent His bow like an enemy,
with his right hand set like an adversary;
He has killed all who were pleasant to His eye;
in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion,
He has poured out His fury like fire.
5 (La 2:2; Jer 30:14) The Lord has become like an enemy;
He has swallowed up Israel,
He has swallowed up all her palaces;
He has destroyed her strongholds,
and has increased mourning and lamentation
in the daughter of Judah.
6 (La 1:4; Zep 3:18) He has violently taken away His tabernacle
as if it were a garden;
He has destroyed His place of assembly;
the Lord has caused the solemn feasts and Sabbaths
to be forgotten in Zion.
In his fierce indignation He has despised the king and the priest.
7 (Ps 74:3-8; 78:59-61) The Lord has scorned His altar,
He has disowned His sanctuary;
He has given up the walls of her palaces
into the hand of the enemy.
They have made a noise in the house of the Lord
as on the day of a solemn feast.
8 (2Ki 21:13; Isa 3:26) The Lord has purposed to destroy
the wall of the daughter of Zion.
He has stretched out a line;
He has not withdrawn His hand from destroying;
therefore He caused the rampart and the wall to lament;
they languished together.
9 (Ne 1:3; Hos 3:4) Her gates have sunk into the ground;
He has destroyed and broken her bars.
Her king and her princes are among the nations;
the Law is no more,
and her prophets find
no vision from the Lord.
10 (Isa 3:26; Job 2:12-13) The elders of the daughter of Zion
sit on the ground in silence;
they throw dust on their heads
and gird themselves with sackcloth.
The virgins of Jerusalem
bow their heads to the ground.
11 (Job 16:13; La 1:16) My eyes fail with tears,
my spirit is greatly troubled;
my bile is poured on the ground
because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because the children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.
12 They say to their mothers,
"Where is grain and wine?"
when they faint like a wounded man
in the streets of the city,
as their life is poured out
on their mothers' bosom.
13 (La 1:12; 2Sa 5:20) What can I say for you,
to what shall I liken you,
O daughter of Jerusalem?
What shall I compare with you,
that I may comfort you,
O virgin daughter of Zion?
For your devastation is great like the sea;
who can heal you?
14 (Isa 58:1; Jer 5:31) Your prophets have seen for you
false and deceptive visions;
they have not revealed your iniquity,
to bring back your captives,
but have seen for you oracles
that are false and misleading.
15 (Ps 48:2; Jer 18:16) All who pass by
clap their hands at you;
they hiss and shake their heads
at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying,
"Is this the city that men call
the perfection of beauty,
the joy of the whole earth?"
16 (Ps 35:21; La 3:46) All your enemies
have opened their mouth against you;
they hiss and gnash their teeth.
They say, "We have swallowed her up!
Certainly this is the day that we longed for;
we have found it; we have seen it."
17 (Ps 89:42; Eze 5:11) The Lord has done what He planned;
He has fulfilled His word
that He had commanded in the days of old.
He has thrown down and has not pitied,
and He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you;
He has exalted the power of your adversaries.
18 (Ps 119:145; Jer 9:1) Their heart cried to the Lord:
O wall of the daughter of Zion,
let your tears run down
like a river day and night;
give yourself no rest,
your eyes no respite!
19 (Ps 62:8; 1Sa 1:15; Isa 26:9) Arise, cry out in the night,
at the beginning of the watches;
pour out your heart like water
before the face of the Lord.
Lift your hands to Him
for the lives of your young children,
who faint for hunger
at the head of every street.
20 (Jer 19:9; La 4:10) Look, O Lord, and consider!
To whom have You done this?
Should the women eat their offspring,
the children who were born healthy?
Should the priest and the prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 (2Ch 36:17; Jer 13:14) The young and the old lie
on the ground in the streets;
my virgins and my young men
have fallen by the sword;
You have killed them in the day of Your anger,
You have slaughtered and not pitied.
22 (Jer 6:25; Ps 31:13) You have invited as to a feast day
the terrors all around;
in the day of the Lord's anger
no one escaped or survived;
those whom I held and raised
my enemy destroyed.
Lamentations 2
[1] How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his
anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and
remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!
[2] The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not
pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of
Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom
and the princes thereof.
[3] He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath
drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob
like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.
[4] He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an
adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of
the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
[5] The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed
up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased
in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
[6] And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a
garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused
the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath
despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
[7] The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he
hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have
made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
[8] The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he
hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying:
therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished
together.
[9] Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her
bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more;
her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.
[10] The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep
silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded
themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to
the ground.
[11] Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is
poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people;
because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
[12] They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as
the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into
their mothers' bosom.
[13] What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken
to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may
comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the
sea: who can heal thee?
[14] Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have
not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for
thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
[15] All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head
at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The
perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
[16] All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and
gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the
day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
[17] The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his
word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath
not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set
up the horn of thine adversaries.
[18] Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let
tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not
the apple of thine eye cease.
[19] Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out
thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward
him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of
every street.
[20] Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the
women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the
prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
[21] The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and
my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of
thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.
[22] Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in
the day of the LORD's anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have
swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.
Lamentations 3
The Prophet's Anguish
1 (Ps 88:7; Job 19:21) I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of His wrath.
2 (Job 30:26; Isa 59:9) He has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light.
3 Surely against me has He turned His hand
continually, the whole day long.
4 (Ps 51:8; Isa 38:13) My flesh and my skin He has made waste away;
He has broken my bones;
5 (La 3:19; Jer 23:15) He has besieged and enveloped me
with gall and travail.
6 (Ps 88:5-6; 143:3) He has set me in dark places,
like the dead of long ago.
7 (Job 3:23; 19:8) He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out;
He has made my chain heavy.
8 (Job 30:20; Ps 22:2) Even when I cry for help, He shuts out my prayer.
9 (Isa 63:17) He has blocked my ways with hewn stone;
He has made my paths crooked.
10 He is to me a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding.
11 (Hos 6:1; Job 16:12-13) He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces;
He has made me desolate.
12 (Job 7:20; Ps 38:2) He has bent His bow
and set me as a target for the arrow.
13 (Job 6:4) He has caused the arrows of His quiver to pierce my inward parts.
14 (Jer 20:7; La 3:63) I have become the derision of all my people,
their mocking song all the day.
15 (Jer 9:15) He has filled me with bitterness,
He has sated me with wormwood.
16 (Pr 20:17; Jer 6:26) He has made my teeth grind on gravel,
and covered me with ashes.
17 (Isa 59:11) My soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten prosperity.
18 (Job 17:15; Eze 37:11) So I say, "My strength and my hope
from the Lord have perished."
19 (La 3:5; 3:15) Remember my affliction and my misery,
the wormwood and the gall.
20 (Ps 42:5-6; 42:11) Surely my soul remembers and is humbled within me.
21 (Ps 130:7) But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 (Mal 3:6; Ps 78:38) It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed;
His compassions do not fail.
23 (Zep 3:5; Ps 36:5) They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
24 (Ps 16:5; 73:26) "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in Him."
25 (Isa 25:9; 30:18) The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
26 (Ps 37:7; 130:5) It is good that a man should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 (Ecc 12:1) It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.
28 (Jer 15:17; La 2:10) Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;
29 (Job 40:4) let him put his mouth in the dust-there may yet be hope.
30 (Isa 50:6; Job 16:10) Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,
and let him be filled with insults.
31 (Ps 94:14; 77:7) For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 (Ps 78:38; Hos 11:8) But though He causes grief,
yet He will have compassion according to the abundance of His mercies.
33 (Eze 33:11) For He does not afflict from His heart,
nor grieve the sons of men.
34 To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,
35 to turn aside the justice due a man in the presence of the Most High,
36 (Hab 1:13) to subvert a man in his cause, the Lord does not approve.
[1] I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
[2] He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
[3] Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
[4] My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
[5] He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
[6] He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
[7] He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain
heavy.
[8] Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
[9] He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
[10] He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
[11] He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me
desolate.
[12] He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
[13] He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
[14] I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
[15] He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
[16] He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me
with ashes.
[17] And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
[18] And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
[19] Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
[20] My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
[21] This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
[22] It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his
compassions fail not.
[23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
[24] The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
[25] The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh
him.
[26] It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the
salvation of the LORD.
[27] It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
[28] He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
[29] He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
[30] He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with
reproach.
[31] For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
[32] But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the
multitude of his mercies.
[33] For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
[34] To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
[35] To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
[36] To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 (Ps 33:9-11) Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 (Isa 45:7; Job 2:10) Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that good and bad proceed?
39 (Mic 7:9; Pr 19:3) Why should a living man complain,
a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 (Ps 119:59; 139:23-24) Let us search and try our ways,
and return to the Lord!
41 (Ps 25:1; 28:2) Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:
42 (2Ki 24:4; Ne 9:26) We have transgressed and rebelled;
You have not pardoned.
43 (La 2:21; 2:17; Ps 83:15) You have covered Yourself with anger
and pursued us; You have killed and not pitied.
44 (La 3:8; Ps 97:2) You have covered Yourself with a cloud,
so that no prayer should pass through.
45 (1Co 4:13) You have made us filthy refuse in the midst of the peoples.
46 (La 2:16; Ps 22:6-8) All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 (Isa 24:17-18; 51:19) Panic and snare have come upon us,
desolation and destruction.
48 (La 2:11; Ps 119:136) My eyes flow with rivers of tears
for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 (Jer 14:17; Ps 77:2) My eyes flow and do not cease, without respite,
50 (Isa 63:15; La 5:1) until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees.
51 My eyes bring suffering to my soul
at the fate of all the daughters of my city.
52 (Ps 35:7; 35:19) My enemies chased me like a bird, without cause.
53 (Jer 38:6; 38:9) They cut off my life in the pit and cast stones on me.
54 (Jnh 2:3-5; Eze 37:11) Waters flowed over my head; I said, "I am cut off!
55 I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.
56 (Ps 55:1; Job 34:28) You have heard my plea:
"Do not close Your ear to my cry for help!"
57 (Isa 41:10; Ps 145:18) You drew near on the day I called on You,
and You said, "Do not fear!"
58 (Jer 51:36) O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;
You have redeemed my life.
59 (Ps 26:1; 35:23) O Lord, You have seen the wrong done tome; judge my case.
60 (Jer 11:19-20) You have seen all their vengeance,
all their schemes against me.
61 (La 5:1; Ps 74:18) You have heard their reproach, O Lord,
all their schemes against me,
62 (Eze 36:3; Ps 59:7) the lips of my enemies and
their devices against me all the day.
63 (Ps 139:2; La 3:14) Look at their sitting down and their rising up;
I am their mocking song.
64 (Ps 28:4; Jer 11:20) Render to them a recompense, O Lord,
according to the work of their hands.
65 (Isa 6:10; Dt 2:30) Give them hardness of heart;
may Your curse be upon them!
66 (Ps 8:3; Dt 25:19) In Your anger pursue and destroy them
from under Your heavens, O Lord!
[37] Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth
it not?
[38] Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
[39] Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his
sins?
[40] Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
[41] Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
[42] We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
[43] Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou
hast not pitied.
[44] Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass
through.
[45] Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the
people.
[46] All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
[47] Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
[48] Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the
daughter of my people.
[49] Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
[50] Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
[51] Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
[52] Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
[53] They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
[54] Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
[55] I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
[56] Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
[57] Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst,
Fear not.
[58] O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my
life.
[59] O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
[60] Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
[61] Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations
against me;
[62] The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me
all the day.
[63] Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
[64] Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their
hands.
[65] Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
[66] Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
2) Our Daily Bread for 1 September 2025 Titled
Wishing for Joy by Tim Gustafson
1 John 1:1-4
The Word of Life
1 (Jn 20:27; Lk 24:39; Ac 4:20) That which was from the beginning, which
we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life-
2 (Jn 1:4; 1Jn 5:20; 3:5) the life was revealed, and we have seen it
and testify to it, and announce to you the eternal life, which was with
the Father and was revealed to us-
3 (1Co 1:9; 1Jn 1:1; Php 2:1) we declare to you that which we have seen
and heard, that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship
is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 (Jn 15:11; 16:24) We are writing these things to you so that our joy may
be complete.
[1] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,
of the Word of life;
[2] (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and
shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
manifested unto us;)
[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may
have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ.
[4] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
In her blog post "Regrets of the Dying," Bronnie Ware outlines regrets she
heard as a nurse caring for the terminally ill. Among them were "I wish I
hadn't worked so hard" and "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends."
Perhaps most intriguing: "I wish that I had let myself be happier."
"Facing our own inevitable death is a fabulous tool for joy-filled living,"
Ware writes. That's sound advice, but what is the source of such joy?
Where do we find ultimate meaning?
As a young man, John the disciple held a distorted view of life's purpose.
He and his brother asked Jesus, "Let one of us sit at your right
and the other at your left in your glory" (Mark 10:37).
Their request only sparked dissension among the disciples (v. 41).
Decades later John held a drastically different view - one of love
and community in Jesus. John saw Jesus' life, death, and resurrection
as foundational to everything. "We proclaim to you the eternal life,"
he wrote (1 John 1:2). John told us about Jesus so that "you also may have
fellowship with us" (v. 3). Then he added, "Our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We write this to make our joy complete" (vv. 3-4).
Life can bring regrets. Jesus invites us to exchange
them for the complete joy only He can give.
Reflect & Pray
What regrets do you have? What’s keeping you from letting Jesus make your joy complete?
Heavenly Father, I regret ____________.
Please step into this pain in my life.
I need the joy that comes from being united with You.
For further study,
read Origin Story: Following Jesus Back to the Beginning.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 2 - Due Season
Gal 6:9
9 And let us not grow weary in doing good,
for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Jackie's preschool class took on an exciting project: they were going to grow
flowers from seeds, Each child took the seed, planted it carefully in the
bedding soil, watered, and waited. But Jackie couldn't wait. Every day
for a week he ran to the window box, looked for his plants, poked, prodded,
unplanted the seeds and then planted them again. "It's no use,"
he pouted after the first week. "Nothing's gonna grow in there."
We live in an instant society - microwave dinners, quick fixes, easy answers.
We are conditioned by our environment to expect - even to demand -
immediate response, and when we have to wait,
we become impatient and irritable.
Paul's exhortation to the Galatians, "Let us not become weary in doing good,"
is as appropriate for twentieth-century believers as it was for the new church
at Galatia. We lose motivation when we don't see results,
and weariness sets in.
If our work does not seem to be producing as we hope, we want to abandon it
and move on to a new project.
But God says, "You will reap a harvest if you don't give up." We give up too
soon in our prayers for a loved one's salvation. We abandon hope too readily
when we don't see spiritual growth in our own lives, when our investment in
another's spiritual maturity seems to have no return. The Lord says,
"The harvest is coming; be patient; trust me."
In due season the harvest comes; when it's the right time. When the seed has
had time to germinate, when the roots are string enough, when the conditions
are right, the reaping time will come. But we must be willing to wait for
the due season, the moment of ripeness, when our labor brings its return.
Application
a) Have I ever felt that my spiritual labours have produced no harvest at all?
b) What does it mean to my own spiritual growth that there is a "due season"
for reaping the harvest?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 31:21
21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Protection in Times of Trouble
Ps 27:1-6
PSALMS 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
1st Day of the month
1) Pray for an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on Canada
(
Joel 2:28 And it will be that, afterwards,
I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream
dreams, and your young men will see visions.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon
all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Acts 2:17 "In the last days it shall be," says God, "
that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream
dreams.
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams:
)
2) Pray that the heart of our Prime Minister
would be directed to do that which pleases God
(Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,
as the rivers of water; He turns it to any place He will.
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,
As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray a prayer on intervention for your Nation.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, I regret ____________.
Please step into this pain in my life.
I need the joy that comes from being united with You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord works with you in due season.
Pray to the Lord and pray that your work reflects the will of the Lord.
Pray to the Lord and pray to knwo the Salvation and the presence of the Lord.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on Canada
Pray that the heart of our Prime Minister
would be directed to do that which pleases God
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.