Hosea 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hosea 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/hos/14/1/s_876001

Meditate on verses 1 and 4.  The LORD is speaking.

“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,

 for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

 I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely,

 for My anger has turned away from them.”

God’s steadfast love and unending mercy undergird His gracious invitation to return to Him.  Hear the LORD as He extends the invitation to you, filling the blank with your name (vs. 1-2):

Return, O ____________, to the LORD your God,

for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

Take words with you and return to the LORD.

Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity

 and receive me graciously,

that I may present the fruit of my lips.”

Pray Hosea 14 in acceptance of God’s gracious invitation.

“LORD, I have stumbled because of my iniquity.

 I am returning to You. 

Take away all iniquity and receive me graciously.

 Please receive these words as fruit from my lips.

 No one can save me but You, LORD.

 Never again will I say, ‘My god,’ to the work of

my hands, for in You, I find mercy.

  LORD, heal my apostasy.  Thank You for loving

 me freely and turning Your anger away from me.

 Be like the dew to me.  Let me blossom like

the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

  Let my shoots sprout and my beauty be like the

olive tree and my fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. 

Let those whom I love again raise grain

 and blossom like the vine.  Let our renown be like

 the wine of Lebanon.  Let us have nothing

more to do with idols.  It is You who answers

 and looks after us.  You are like a luxuriant

 cypress; from You comes our fruit.  Make us wise, so we

 understand these things; make us discerning,

 so we know them, for Your ways are right, LORD,

and the righteous will walk in them. 

Make us Your righteous ones.  Keep us from

 transgressors who stumble in Your ways.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell