Day 48 – Prayer

Ezra 9:1 When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.”

 3 Therefore, when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard and sat down astonished.

 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the Elohiym of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

 5 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to JEHOVAH my Elohiym. 6 I said, “O my Elohiym, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift my face to You, my Elohiym; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day. 8 Now for a little while grace has been shown from JEHOVAH our Elohiym, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our Elohiym may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. 9 For we were slaves. Yet our Elohiym did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our Elohiym, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. 10 Now, O our Elohiym, what will we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, 11 which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which filled it from one end to another with their impurity. 12 Now, therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 After everything that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our Elohiym have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, 14 should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people committing these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor? 15 O JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!”

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Holy

Righteous

Gracious

Merciful

What do you do when you learn your family members broke the law?

When Ezra learned the priests and Levites disobeyed JEHOVAH’S law by taking wives of the nations around him, he fell on his face and prayed for JEHOVAH’S grace and mercy. He proclaimed the guilt of the nation.

What do you do when you see the nation you love walk in step with the world, disobeying every law and commandment JEHOVAH gave in His Word? Do you pray to Yeshuwa as Ezra did? Or do you take it in stride because you too have grown complacent to Yeshuwa’s Word?

What will it take for you to fall on your face and pray for the people you love and the nation who rejects JEHOVAH’S Word?

Elohiym sent Yeshuwa into the world to redeem it from Satan’s grip and turn the hearts of the people back to Him. Yeshuwa paid the price for your sin and mine. Yeshuwa showed you and told you how to pray. You see examples of prayer throughout the Bible, prayers of supplication, prayers asking for Yeshuwa’s grace and mercy, for His forgiveness.

Do you walk away from what the people you love do against Yeshuwa and the nation who claims to love Elohiym, yet their actions speak against what they say? Or do you pray for your family and nation? Do you humble yourself as Ezra did, and seek Yeshuwa’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy? Do you recognize Yeshuwa’s righteousness as you pray? Or do you shake your head and walk away, expecting someone else to pray?

Yeshuwa loves you. He died for you. He rose the third day to give you salvation. Is it asking too much to pray for your loved ones and the nation to accept Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord also; to return to Yeshuwa and receive His forgiveness, grace, and mercy?

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJV)

When was the last time you humbled yourself before Yeshuwa and prayed for the salvation of your loved ones and the nation? Sitting beside you is the person you claim to love. Do you pray for them? When you go to church and see other believers, do you pray for them? When you learn about their family members in need of salvation, do you pray for them?

Yeshuwa wants you to pray with a sincere heart, humbling yourself before Him, worshiping Him, and bowing yourself before Him, praying in earnest for those you love and the nation you profess to love. When you love someone, you pray for them.

Let’s pray: Father, I come before You, asking for Your forgiveness, first for myself because I have lived a complacent life, watching the actions of the people around me, and those I love walk so far from You. Yet prayer for them does not come to my lips. Forgive me. Help me pray for those I profess to love. Let prayer come to my lips as I humble myself before You and pray for my nation and those in authority for wisdom and guidance in the performance of their duty. Let prayer come from my lips for the pastors and teachers who teach Your Word. Let my prayer come before You for my family. Let me show them how much I love them by praying for them. Teach me to walk in Your way, humbly seeking Your face every day for those I love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 7 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux