1 Samuel 12 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 12.

Meditate on verse 23.

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me

that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you,

but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

Do you have someone in your life you feel like giving up on, someone who seems hopeless, like they will never change and do what pleases the LORD? Samuel was serving as pastor for a nation of people who fit that description. I love his resoluteness to not give up on the Israelites. Not only was he going to pray for them, he was going to teach them how to please God. He knew he would be sinning against God if he stopped praying for and teaching those who were so rebellious.

DO NOT give up on your child, your spouse, your friend, your co-worker, your loved one... God certainly hasn’t, and He calls you to partner with Him in their journey to Christ, which God has allowed to be part of your journey into Christlikeness.

Pray 1 Samuel 12:24-25 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ fear You
and serve You in truth with all their heart.


Let them consider what great things You have done for them.

 May they stop doing wickedly, so they will not be swept away.

 For Your name’s sake, Jesus~”

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

Habakkuk 3 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Habakkuk 3.

Meditate on verse 2.

LORD, I have heard the report about You, and I fear.

LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years. 

In the midst of the years, make it known;

in wrath remember mercy.

You may have somebody for whom you have been praying a long time. A man once told me his wife prayed for 16 years for him to come to know Christ. He is a follower of Jesus now and a wonderful example of God making His work known in a person. Thankfully, his wife did not grow weary in prayer. Cry out for God to revive His work in the midst of those you love. Ask God to make His work known in the lives of those you love. Beg Him to show them mercy even though they may be experiencing His wrath.

Pray Habakkuk 3:2 and 17-19 as a faithful, prayerful watchman over those you stand guard (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, revive Your work in the midst of ________.


In the midst of their years, make Your work known.


In wrath remember mercy.

Though it does not yet;

I wait for the fig tree to blossom in their lives

 and for there to be fruit
 on their vines.

 Please do not let the yield of their olive tree fail.

 Let the fields of their lives produce food.

 Do not cut off their flock from the fold.

 May there be cattle in their stalls.


As I wait, I will exult in You, LORD.

 I will rejoice in You, God of my salvation.

LORD God, You are my strength.

You have made my feet like hinds’ feet,


and You make me walk on the high places.

Please do the same for _________.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Habakkuk 2 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Habakkuk 2.

Meditate on verse 2 and 3.

Then the LORD answered me and said,

“Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets,

that the one who reads it may run.

 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail.

 Though it tarries, wait for it;

for it will certainly come, it will not delay.”

What is the vision God has given you for those you love? Are you praying for them to be established in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Do you repeatedly ask God to give them the characteristics of His wisdom from above (James 3:17-18)? Do you tirelessly pray for the LORD to grow them up in His love (1 Corinthians 13:4-11)?

Write out the vision God gives you for the people you are guarding with prayer. After you write it, run with it. Pray it to God everyday, reminding Him of the holiness that needs to be established in your loved ones. Wait by faith for God to bring them to the goal of Christlikeness.

Pray Habakkuk 2:4 and 14 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, is a proud one;
their soul is not right within them.


Please make them righteous;
may they live by faith.


Let them be filled with the knowledge

of the glory of You, LORD, as the waters cover the sea.


For Your name’s sake, Jesus~”

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

Habakkuk 1 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Habakkuk 1.

Meditate on verse 2.

How long, O LORD, will I call for help,

and You will not hear?

 I cry out to You, “Violence!” yet You do not save.

Have you felt like Habakkuk and cried out to God, “Why don’t You hear me?”

God answered Habakkuk’s question with, “Because I am doing something in your days. You would not believe if you were told” (Habakkuk 1:5).

Are you waiting for God to answer your prayers? Waiting can be grueling, yet waiting is the time God uses to grow your faith. A theme of Habakkuk is: “The righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). As a follower of Jesus Christ, it must be a theme of your life as well (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

Reread Habakkuk 1. You will observe that Habakkuk questioned God about many things like, “Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?”

Ask God your questions. Tell Him your feelings and frustrations. These conversations with God will help you live by faith.

Pray Habakkuk 1:5 and 12 as you wait on the LORD as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I believe You are doing something in my days;


if You were to tell me, I would not believe it.

So because You are from everlasting,

 and You are the LORD, my God, my Holy One,

I continue to believe _________ and I will not die.

You have appointed this situation to judge us,


and You have established it to correct us.


You are our Rock, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 138 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 138.

Meditate on verse 8.

The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;

Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting. 

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

I love having Biblical truths tucked into my mind and heart that come to my remembrance the moment I need them. For example, when I feel weak: “I love You, O LORD, my strength” (Psalm 18:1). When I or someone I love feels anxious: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15).

When I discovered Psalm 138:8, the LORD knew how much I needed it. There have been days I have repeated it literally hundreds of times. “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me.” I have said it by faith when the circumstances around have screamed to the contrary. And, amazingly, but not surprisingly, the LORD has indeed accomplished what concerned me. As new concerns creep into my life, I will say it again, hundreds of times, knowing that God will always be true to His Word.

Pray Psalm 138:8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, You will accomplish what concerns me.

Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting.


Do not forsake _________ and me, the works of Your hands.

 In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 101 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 101.

Meditate on verse 4.

A perverse heart shall depart from me;

I will know no evil.

In a world filled with perversity, this is a great psalm to pray for yourself and those you love.  Psalm 101:3 is a good verse to write out and place on the corner of the television and computer screen.

I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;

 I hate the work of those who fall away;

 it shall not fasten its grip on me.

What have you allowed to fasten its grip on you that you know is displeasing to God? What worthless and vile things have a grip on members of your family? As a follower of Jesus Christ, what in your life do you need to cut off and cut out? If you have children that God has entrusted to your care, what do you need to do to ensure things of Satan are not destroying their minds and lives? Be obedient to what the Word of God and the Holy Spirit tell you to do; do not delay.

Pray Psalm 101:2-4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _______ and me give heed to the blameless way.

May we walk within our house in the integrity of our heart.

Let us set no worthless thing before our eyes;

let us hate the work of those who fall away.

Do not let it fasten its grip on us.


Let a perverse heart depart from us;

may we know no evil.


In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 100 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 100.

Meditate on verse 3.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;

 it is He who has made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are His people

and the sheep of His pasture.

It is easy to get full of yourself. Whether you suffer from thinking too highly of yourself or whether you experience low self-esteem, the root of the problem is pride and believing, “It’s all about me.”

Well, it is not all about you; it is all about God. Whether you choose to admit it or not or whether the world chooses to admit it or not, it is ALL about God! It has always been ALL about God; it will always be ALL about God. Be wise, take your eyes off of yourself, and fix your eyes on Jesus, today, for the rest of eternity.

Pray Psalm 100 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“May and I shout joyfully to You, LORD.

 Let us serve You with gladness,
and come before You with joyful singing.

 May we know that LORD, You are God.

You made us and not we ourselves;


we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture.

 May we enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise.


We give thanks to You and bless Your name.

LORD, You are good;
Your lovingkindness is everlasting,

and Your faithfulness to all generations.

 In Your name, Jesus.”

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

Psalm 86 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 86.

Meditate on verse 11.

Teach me Your way, O LORD;

I will walk in Your truth;

unite my heart to fear Your name.

A baby’s heart starts beating around day 24 of pregnancy. Starting with the ninth week of a baby’s life, their heart divides into four chambers. The week this was miraculously happening in one of our grandbabies, I prayed fervently for God to give that child and our other grandchildren undivided hearts. I asked God to let their hearts never be divided in their love, loyalty, and devotion to Jesus.

Examine your own heart. Better yet, allow the LORD to examine it. What do you really love? Do you love what God loves, or do you love what the world loves? What are your passions, desires, cravings? Are they the same as God’s?

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), be honest with God and pray Psalm 86:11-12.

“Teach me Your way, O LORD;


I will walk in Your truth;


unite my heart to fear Your name.


I will give thanks to You,


O LORD my God, with all my heart,

 and I will glorify Your name forever.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 57 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 57.

Meditate on verse 7.

My heart is steadfast, O God,

 my heart is steadfast;

 I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!

David wrote this Psalm when things in his life were not going smoothly and as he had hoped. King Saul wanted David dead to ensure he not become king of Israel. A jealous Saul threatened to kill David for more than ten years of his life. Imagine David saying these words to God as he hid from Saul in the caves of the wilderness of Judah (1 Samuel 24).

The words of Psalm 57 can be your cry to God on days, weeks, months, even years when life is hard.

Pray Psalm 57:1-3 and 7 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Be gracious to ________ and me, O God, be gracious to us,

for our souls take refuge in You.


In the shadow of Your wings we will take refuge
until destruction passes by.


We will cry to You, God Most High,
who accomplishes all things for us.


You will send from heaven and save us.


Reproach him who tramples upon us.


God, please send forth Your lovingkindness and Your truth.

 Our hearts are steadfast; O God, our hearts are steadfast.

We will sing, yes, we will sing praises!


In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 39 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 39.

Meditate on verse 1a.

I said, “I will guard my ways

that I may not sin with my tongue.”

Notice how David handled a situation where he wanted to say something so badly, but he knew if he spoke from a heart that was hot within him, he would be sinning. When he did speak, he talked to God. He recognized how short life is (is it too short to be this angry?). He asked deliverance from all of his transgressions (being in God’s presence makes you aware of how sinful you really are; it’s not just those “wicked” people [Psalm 39:1]), and he hoped in God.

Pray Psalm 39:1, 7-8, and 12a over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help _____ and me guard our ways;


do not let us sin with our tongues.


May we guard our mouths as with a muzzle

 while the wicked are in our presence.


We wait for You, LORD; 
our hope is in You.


Deliver us from all our transgressions.


Hear our prayer, O LORD, and give ear to our cry;

do not be silent at our tears.


For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 37 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 37. 

Meditate on verse 4.

Delight yourself in the LORD,

and He will give you the desire of your heart.

A mother shared about her baby who would light up with joy anytime she or her husband came into the child’s presence. As soon as the baby’s mama or daddy was in the room, the baby would no longer look at toys but would only have eyes for his parents. He delighted being in the presence of his parents.

Do you delight being in the presence of God? Do you stop whatever you are doing to spend time with Him? Do your eyes light up with joy as you notice Him in His Word and through His creation around you?

As you delight yourself in the LORD, as you enjoy Him, your heart’s desires will become His desires. God will give you the desires of your heart because you will desire to do and be what pleases Him. Then as you commit your way to the LORD, He will establish your steps and delight in your way (Psalm 37:5, 23).

Pray Psalm 37:4-6 and 23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, as _________ and I delight in You,

please give us the desires of our hearts.


We commit our way to You;


we also trust You, and know You will do it.

Bring forth our righteousness as the light


and our judgment as the noonday.

LORD, establish our steps and delight in our way.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 34 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 34.

Meditate on verse 8.

O taste and see that the LORD is good;

 how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

As you walk this day with Christ, be intimately aware of everything He is doing in your midst. Notice the timing of events, conversations that are had, flowers that are blooming, provisions that are made... Take notice of the LORD like you would notice your favorite food prepared especially for you. And as you taste and see that He is good, say like David did, “LORD, You are intimately acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3).

Pray Psalm 34:1-2 and 13-14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I will bless You at all times;

 Your praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 My soul will make its boast in You, LORD;

the humble will hear it and rejoice.

Help _________ and me keep our tongue from evil

 and our lips from speaking deceit.

Let us depart from evil and do good;

let us seek peace and pursue it.


In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 31 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 31.

Meditate on verse 16.

Make Your face to shine upon your servant;

save me in Your lovingkindness.

This is a beautiful prayer psalm. David acknowledged who God is: righteous, rock of strength, stronghold, fortress, his strength ... (Psalm 31:1-4). Then, David humbly yet unashamedly made requests of God because of who God is. “For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me” (Psalm 31:3).

If you are born again into Christ Jesus, then you are a child of God, and you, like David, can come to the Father. Instead of simply reading Psalm 31, pray it now, humbly and unashamedly remembering who you are in Christ.

Pray Psalm 31:16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make Your face to shine upon and me.

Save us in Your lovingkindness.


For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 25 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 25.

Meditate on verse 14a.

The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him.

The LORD confides in and reveals His secrets to those who fear Him. The Hebrew word for secret literally means intimacy, a couch, a cushion, a friendly conversation among friends. It is delightfully amazing that your God desires to couch with you and tell you His secrets.

If you are in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you have the privilege of intimacy with Him. Incredible! Don’t ever take it for granted and always take advantage of it.

Pray Psalm 25:7-15 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not remember the sins
 of ________

and my youth or our transgressions;

according to Your lovingkindness, remember us.


You are good and upright, LORD; therefore, instruct
us in the way.

Help us be humble, so You can lead us
in justice and teach us Your way.

As we keep
Your covenant and testimonies,

 keep us on Your paths
of lovingkindness and truth.

For Your name’s sake, LORD, pardon our iniquity, for it is great.

 Let us always fear You, so You will instruct us in the way we should choose.

 May our souls abide in prosperity

and our descendants inherit the land.

LORD, as we fear You, reveal Your secrets to us

 and make us know Your covenant.

Keep our eyes continually toward You and pluck our feet out of the net.


In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Psalm 19 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 19.

Meditate on verse 14.

Let the words of my mouth

 and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD,

 my Rock and my Redeemer.

Do you ever regret something you said? I’m grieved when I leave a gathering of people or a conversation with my husband wishing I had not spoken certain things. I have learned the hard way to whisper this verse in prayer before interacting with others:

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch over the door of my lips.

—Psalm 141:3

Psalm 19:1-2 says the heavens are telling about the glory of God; they pour forth speech that declares the work of His hands. If a star is constantly talking about the LORD, how much more should the mouth of a person who has been saved by the Creator of the universe?

As you walk with Jesus, pray Psalm 19:13-14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, keep _________ and me from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over us.


Make us blameless and acquitted of great transgression.

 Let the words of our mouths
and the meditation of our hearts
be acceptable

in Your sight, O LORD,
our Rock and our Redeemer,

Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray ~”

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