Short prayers based on The Book of the Twelve
<aside> 🙏🏻 “The LORD says: I will not relent from punishing Judah for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord and have not kept his statutes.” (Amos 2:4)
God, we pray that you would also give us eyes to see sin, and error, and idolatry, and immorality in our own hearts. Jesus, lead us to confession and repentance, that we might be free from it and that we might be holy as you are holy. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.” (Amos 5:24)
We pray Lord, that our lives and our lips would be marked by ever flowing righteousness and justice. We pray that the way we relate to others would be right and good, pure and holy, particularly in how we relate to those in need. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Look, the days are coming- this is the declaration of the Lord GOD- when I will send a famine through the land: not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)
God, we praise you that we don’t have a famine of hearing your word. We praise you for all the opportunities we have to hear it, read it, and study it. We pray that we would meditate on your word day and night, hide it in our hearts, live according to it, and spread it. God, we need your Word, we love you Word, thank you we have access to it. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “For the day of the LORD is near, against all the nations.” (Obadiah 1:15)
We know, Lord, that one day every nation, every tribe, every people, will stand before you as judge, so we pray for the spread of the gospel to them. Send out labourers into the harvest field that they may hear of your love, mercy, and grace, and respond in repentance and faith. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice.” (Jonah 2:2)
Lord, thank you, that when we call out to you, when we cry out to you for help, when we draw near to you in prayer, you hear us and you answer us. We don’t deserve this, but you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you save all who have put their trust in Jesus. Provide for us today all the help we need to live lives worthy of the grace you have shown to us. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it, and many nations will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-2)
You have promised Lord, that many nations will come you to, and walk in your ways. So, we pray, that as your people go and make disciples of all nations, as they teach the nations to obey Christ’s commands, you would bring them to yourself, and they would follow in your paths. God, help us as a church to be faithful to this mission where you have placed us, and raise up witnesses who will go to places that are still unreached by the gospel. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Father, help us to do what is good and what you require of us. Give us the strength we need to do what is right in all situations, and not to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to those in need. By your Spirit, would we show kindness in all we do and say. Please remove pride from our hearts, and help us to walk humbly with you today. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
Lord, we thank you that you are a good God who knows us. Thank you that you see us, you are concerned about all the details of our lives, and that you love us. We pray for those who are in the midst of difficult trials or facing strong temptations that they would take refuge in you and you would be a stronghold for them. Keep them from rebelling against you. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “But the righteous one will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
God, help us to trust in you, and not in ourselves. Help us to trust in you, not only for salvation, but for everything in this life. Give us the patience we need to trust in your timing, as things we long to see happen don’t happen immediately. Thank you that you are a good and faithful and powerful and wise and just Lord who is worthy of all our trust. Amen.
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