Hosea 1 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Hosea 1.

Meditate on verses 1-2.

The word of the LORD which came to Hosea the
 son of Beeri,

 during the days of Uzziah, Jotham,
 Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah,


and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

When the LORD first spoke through
Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea,

“Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry
and have children of harlotry;


for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.”

The book of Hosea divinely reveals God’s compassionate nature and love for you. In order to better understand this prophetic writing from 2750 years ago, it is helpful to set the background of the letter in the history of Israel. In 1445 BC, Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. In 1405 BC, they entered the promised land of Canaan. The Period of the Judges followed. During this 350-year period, the 12 tribes cooperated together and were led by judges during times of crisis. The tribes united in 1050 BC and formed a monarchy led by Saul, David, and Solomon. Following Solomon’s reign, the nation divided. The northern tribes formed the kingdom known as Israel in 922 BC. It is sometimes called Ephraim. The southern kingdom was called Judah.

Hosea established his tenure of ministry by listing the kings of Judah. An Israelite himself, Hosea listed his own king, Jeroboam II. Jeroboam was the great-grandson of King Jehu. God promised King Jehu He would delay His judgment on the idolatrous northern kingdom for four generations. When Jeroboam II died around 750 BC, the judgment on Israel began. God wanted Israel to know He was judging them for their spiritual adultery of idol worship, yet His undying love would always offer them the opportunity to return to Him.

God said in Exodus 20:3-6:

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You
shall not make for yourself an idol,


or any likeness of what is in heaven above

 or on the earth beneath

or in the water under the earth.

You shall
not worship them or serve them;


for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,

 visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children,

on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

but showing lovingkindness to thousands,

 to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray Hosea 1:2 as a prayer of confession to your LORD.

“Forgive ________ and me when we commit flagrant harlotry,

 forsaking You, LORD!


Forgive my country because the land commits flagrant harlotry,

 forsaking You, LORD!


May we have no other gods before You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Jude ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Jude.

Meditate on verse 3b.

Contend earnestly for the faith

which was once for all handed down to the saints.

Jude, like James, was also a half-brother of Jesus Christ who made no claim to this fact. Like James, he referred to himself as a bond- servant of Jesus Christ. A risen Savior turned a skeptical, scoffing brother into a faithful follower (John 7:1-9; Mark 3:20-21).

Jude wrote his letter because people in the church had to be warned. There were mockers in church who followed after their own ungodly lusts. They caused divisions; they were worldly-minded and devoid of the Spirit (Jude 1:18-19). These were people in church, even partaking of the LORD’s Supper as if they were believers in Jesus Christ, yet they were doubly dead, uprooted, and the black darkness had been reserved for them forever (Jude 1:12-13).

God included this letter in the Bible as a letter of warning to you. Attending church and taking communion does not make a person a Christian. Examine people’s behavior; examine your own behavior.

Pray Jude 1:20-21 and 24-25 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, build ________ and me on our most holy faith.

Keep us praying in the Holy Spirit.


Keep us in Your love, God,

as we wait anxiously for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ to eternal life.


You are able to keep us from stumbling.


Make us stand in the presence of Your
 glory blameless with great joy.


To You, the only God our Savior,

 through Jesus Christ our LORD,

be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority,


before all time and now and forever.

Amen~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

3 John ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 3 John.

Meditate on verse 4.

I have no greater joy than this,

to hear of my  children walking in the truth.

In all three of John’s letters, truth is a key repeated word. He wanted his readers to be walking in truth, to be fellow workers with the truth, to have a good testimony based on the truth.

The world today wages war on truth. A secular pop singer said, “I am telling you a lie in a vicious effort to get you to repeat my lie until it becomes the truth.” With an estimated 125 million singles sold, the lies propagated by this one singer are repeated over and over and over.

John exhorted his readers, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 1:11).

John knew his testimony was true because he knew the Word of God (3 John 1:12).

What is your testimony? Is it based on truth or lies? What and who do you imitate? Would God call you evil or good?

Pray 3 John 1:2-4 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I pray in all respects that __________ may prosper

 and be in good health just as their soul prospers.

 Let brethren come and testify
to how they are walking in the truth.

 I have no greater joy than this,

to hear of my children walking in the truth.

 In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 John ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 2 John.

Meditate on verse 9.

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ,

 does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching,

he has both the Father and the Son.

John wrote a second letter for the sake of the truth. He loved the children of God and wanted to be sure they were walking in the truth. John commanded his readers not to greet or receive into their homes people who did not abide in the teaching of Christ (2 John 1:9-10). Greeting or joyfully receiving a deceiver is participating in his evil deeds (2 John 1:11).

God wants you to take this letter seriously. Who and what do you receive into your home? Think about the friends, movies, shows, music, internet sites, entertainers, magazines, and books that are in your home. How do they compare to the truth of God? God says do not greet or receive into your house anyone or anything contradictory to the teaching of Christ. Remember you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16). Do not allow deception into your mind or the minds of those God has placed in your care. You are commanded by the Father to walk in truth (2 John 1:4).

Pray 2 John 1:4 and 8 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let me find _________ walking in Your truth.

 Father, help them obey Your commandment to do so.

 May they watch themselves
not to lose

what You have accomplished in them.

Let them receive Your full reward.


For the sake of Your Kingdom, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 John 5 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 John 5.

Meditate on verse 19.

We know that we are of God,

and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

John wrote many truths in his letter for building your faith. You need these truths because your faith in God is what overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

These truths also comfort you as you live in a world where people call good “evil” and evil “good.” It helps to know that such insanity is not a surprise to God. The words penned by John 2,000 years ago, describe the world today.

Take heart. Through John God wrote to “you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Remain strong because “the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). Do not doubt what you know about God because God has given you understanding to know Him who is true. If you are in Jesus Christ then you are in Him who is true. Jesus is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20).

These are doctrines to build your life on. Take a moment to reread the letter of 1 John. It is a letter written to you. Ask God to show you the truths you need for your life today.

Pray 1 John 5:18 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, as those born of You,
let ________ and me not keep on sinning.

God, keep us in You.
Do not let the evil one touch us.


For the sake of Your promises, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 John 4 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 John 4.

Meditate on verse 4.

You are from God, little children,

and have overcome them;

because greater is He who is in you

 than he who is in the world.

If you are from God, then whom have you overcome? Who is God greater than? 1 John 4:1-3 says there are spirits of false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist in the world. If you are a child of God, you have overcome those spirits because the Holy Spirit in you is greater than the spirit of the antichrist. Knowing these doctrines strengthens your faith in Christ.

John also wrote about the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6). If you are talking to someone who knows God, they will listen to you; if they are not from God, they will not listen to you. Do not be surprised when the world ignores the truth you want to tell them. Do not fear the spirit of error or the spirits of false prophets. They cannot harm you if you are in Christ because He is greater than any other spirit. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God and stand firm in God’s love and truth.

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray 1 John 4:6, 13, 15, and 17 over someone who needs the love of Christ.

“LORD, please let ___________ listen to the spirit of truth,

 so they can receive Your Spirit.


May they confess You, Jesus, as the Son of God,


so You will abide in them and they in You.


Let Your love be perfected in them,

so they may have confidence in the day of judgment.

 In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 John 3 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 John 3. 

Meditate on verse 7.

Little children, make sure no one deceives you;

 the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

There is an old saying, “Practice makes perfect.” That saying is false. Practice makes permanent. Practicing perfectly makes perfect.

What are you making permanent in your life? John said that what people practice depends on to whom they belong. Children of the devil practice sin, and children of God practice righteousness. If you call yourself a child of God, what are your habits of life; what are you making permanent? Do you make sin permanent in your life, or do you make righteousness permanent?

The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). See to it that you are not practicing things Christ came to destroy.

If you abide in Christ, these things will be evident:

            *You will be purifying yourself just as Jesus is pure (1 John 3:3).

            *You will not be practicing sin (1 John 3:4-6).

            *You will practice righteousness, just as Jesus is righteous (1 
John 3:7). 


Pray 1 John 3:3 and 7 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a

faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).




“LORD, purify __________ and me just as You are pure.

Help us practice righteousness just as You are righteous.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 John 2 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 John 2.

Meditate on verse 6.

The one who says he abides in Him

ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Jesus Christ the Righteous advocates on your behalf with the Father because He is your appeasement for sins. Your sins offend God. It is incredible that Jesus Christ, God’s perfectly righteous Son would become your sin, so you could become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). After dying, Jesus Christ the Righteous now always lives for your sake to advocate on your behalf, constantly reminding God the Father that you can be in His presence because you belong to Him (Hebrews 7:25).

Since Jesus does all this for you, obey Him. If you say you know Jesus, yet you refuse to obey Him, then you are a liar (1 John 2:4). Jesus even asked, “Why do you call Me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Obedience is proof of your salvation.

John knew that he knew Jesus. God had John write this letter so you can know that you know Jesus.

Pray 1 John 2:3, 5-6, 15, and 28-29 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help __________ and me to keep Your commandments.

 As we keep Your Word, let Your love be truly perfected in us.

As we abide in You, help us to walk in the same manner as You walked.

Help us to not love the world or the things in the world.

 Father, we want Your love in us.

 Let us abide in You,

so we will not shrink in shame at Your coming.


Jesus, You are righteous.

 May we practice righteousness because we are born of You.


For Your name’s sake~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 John 1 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 John 1.

Meditate on verse 5b.

God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

John knew Jesus. He had seen, touched, and heard Him. John wrote these truths, so his joy would be made complete. John fellowshipped with the Word of Life; He wanted fellowship with other followers of Jesus. These followers must know the truth of Christ; otherwise, they walked in darkness, and John could not fellowship with someone walking in darkness.

John’s letter teaches you doctrines of God, truths about who God is and who you in Christ. If you say you have fellowship with Jesus Christ, yet you walk in darkness, you are lying about fellowshipping with Jesus. It is impossible to be living in darkness and Light at the same time.

Examine yourself. What are you living in? Do you live and practice the truth of the Word of God, or do you live and practice the darkness of Satan and the world? And be careful, the world will call dark, demonic things good and appropriate; however, if God’s Word calls it sin; that is what it is, and you need the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from all of it (1 John 1:7).

Pray 1 John 1:7 and 9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please help _________ and me to walk in the Light

as You are in the Light.

 Let us fellowship with people of Light.

 Jesus, let Your blood cleanse us from all sin.

 May we always confess our sins.

Thank You, Father, for being faithful

and righteous to forgive us our sins

 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Peter 3 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Peter 3.

Meditate on verse 2.

You should remember the Words spoken beforehand

 by the holy prophets

 and the commandment of the LORD and Savior

 spoken by your apostles.

People forget the world was created by the Word of God. People forget the world was destroyed by water. People forget what God spoke about a future judgment. People forget the Word of God; they make fun of the Word of God, and they distort the Word of God to their own destruction.

Peter knew people had a tendency to forget, so he wanted to stir up the minds of his readers by way of reminder. When God had Peter pen these words, He knew you would be reading them today and your mind would be stirred. Take God’s Word to heart, and do not be disheartened by the mockers and false teachers of your day. Their destruction is coming; therefore, what sort of person ought you to be in holy conduct and Godliness (2 Peter 3:11)?

Pray 2 Peter 3:14 and 17-18 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make ____________ and me diligent

 to be found by You in peace,

spotless and blameless.

Help us to be on our guard not to be carried away

by the error of unprincipled men.


Do not let us fall away from our steadfastness.

Let us grow in the grace and knowledge of You,

 our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.


To You, Jesus, be the glory,

both now and to the day of eternity. Amen~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Peter 2 ~ Praying God

Please read 2 Peter 2.

Meditate on verse 2.

Many will follow their sensuality,

and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.

Peter warned his readers there were false teachers among them. These teachers introduced destructive heresies, followed their sensuality, and maligned the truth. Their eyes were full of adultery, never ceasing from sin.

More than 2,000 years have passed, but your world is similar to Peter’s. There are false teachers, even in churches, teaching heresy as if it was truth. God’s Word does not change; He still hates sin. God hates sin because it destroys lives. Just because the world legalizes and condones sin does not change what God thinks about it. Sin will still ruin your life and the lives of your loved ones even when it is legalized. What God said was immoral and wrong in the Old Testament was immoral and wrong in the New Testament and is immoral and wrong today. If God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell, He will keep the unrighteous under punishment for the Day of Judgment (2 Peter 2:4, 9).

Do not be swayed from the truth of the Bible. Do not let a preacher, teacher, family member, or friend convince you that God or His Word has changed. Stand firm! Live to please the LORD rather than men.

Pray 2 Peter 2:9a over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, You know how to rescue the Godly from temptation.

Rescue ________ and me, today.


For Your sake, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Peter 1 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Peter 1.

Meditate on verse 3.

Seeing that His divine power has granted

to us everything pertaining to life and Godliness,

through the true knowledge of Him

who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Peter was about to die, and the sheep entrusted to him by the LORD were on his mind. He wrote another letter to remind them of things they already knew. Once he departed this earthly dwelling, Peter did not want the sheep to forget the truth established in them. His letter is eternal Scripture, so you need not forget either.

As you shepherd the flock God has given you, remember that His divine power gives you everything you need to tend them with Godliness. Be like Peter and remind them of the truths of God. Be diligent to make sure they can recall those truths at any time.

Beware it is demonic wisdom that advises you to let children decide for themselves what they will believe about God. It is a lie of Satan that says truth is relative. Truth is according to Godliness, and all of God’s Word is truth (Titus 1:1; Psalm 119:160).

Pray 2 Peter 1:4-8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _______ and me become partakers of Your divine nature.

Help us escape the corruption that is in the world by lust.

May we apply all diligence in our faith.

Supply us with moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance,

Godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Let these qualities be increasingly ours,

so we will be neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of You,

LORD Jesus Christ~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Peter 5 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Peter 5.

Meditate on verse 2a.

Shepherd the flock of God among you.

Peter took Jesus seriously when commanded three times to shepherd His sheep (John 21:15-19). Peter’s obedience is seen in this letter that still tends the LORD’s flock. Learning from Jesus’ example, Peter concluded his letter by exhorting his readers to shepherd the flock God had placed in their care.

Who has the LORD placed in your realm of influence to shepherd? There is at least one person Christ trusts you to feed and tend. He wants you to shepherd His flock voluntarily, eagerly, and by setting an example for them. The Chief Shepherd promises you a reward for being a good shepherd, the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).

As you shepherd the flock God has entrusted to you, pray 1 Peter 5:6-11 over them as their faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6- 7).

“LORD, help _______ humble themselves under Your mighty hand,

so You may exalt them at the proper time.


Let them cast all their anxiety upon You
because You care for them.


Give them a sober spirit;
keep them on the alert,

so their adversary,
the devil, will not devour them.


Help them resist the devil.
Make them firm in their faith.


God of all grace, call _________ to Your eternal glory in Christ.

Perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish them.


To You, Jesus, be dominion forever and ever. Amen~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell