Ruth 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ruth 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/rth/1/1/s_233001

Meditate on verse 19.

So they both went until they came to Bethlehem.

 And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them,

and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"

Naomi and Ruth were in a hopeless situation. Their husbands were dead; they had no children, and they lived during a time when women relied heavily on husbands and sons to provide for them. They needed a savior! Ruth insisted on staying with her beloved mother-in-law, entering into a covenant relationship by committing to never leave God or Naomi. The promises made by Ruth led her to Bethlehem where the Almighty would perform the miraculous on behalf of her, Naomi, and all of humanity.

As you continue reading the beloved book of Ruth, you will be reading the Christmas story. You, too, will journey with Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem, being stirred by the hand of the Almighty. As you spend these next four days of the CHRISTmas holy days, in Bethlehem, be filled with hope for what the Almighty will miraculously do in your life, too.

Start your journey to Bethlehem, recommitting yourself to God by praying Ruth 1:16-17.

“LORD, I will never leave You or turn back

 from following You, for where You go, I will go,

 and where You lodge, I will lodge.  Your people will be

my people because You are my God.

 LORD, thank You that not even death will part me from You.

Because of You, LORD Jesus~”

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

Simeon's Song - Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 2:25-32.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/luk/2/1/s_975001

Simeon’s Song (vs. 29-32).

Meditate on verse 30.

My eyes have seen Your salvation.

As Simeon held Jesus in his arms, he knew God had fulfilled His promise that he “would not see death before he had seen the LORD’s Christ” (v. 26). Can you imagine his joy, knowing his soul would leave this earth in peace because he saw God’s salvation? Simeon’s incredible encounter with Messiah, must be yours as well. In order to depart this life in peace, you must see God’s salvation, Jesus Christ, holding Him in your arms as God’s gift of Messiah to you.

Thank the LORD for His indescribable gift of Jesus! Pray for those you love who still need to see the LORD’s Christ, accepting Him as God’s gift of salvation.

Bless God with Simeon’s words, making them your own (vs. 28-32).

“Now LORD, You can release me, Your bond-servant, to depart in peace,

according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation,

which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a Light of Revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.

LORD, let ________ see Your salvation.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

Zacharias' Song - Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 1:57-79.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/luk/1/1/s_974001

Zacharias’ Song (vs. 68-79)

Meditate on verses 68-69a.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for He has visited us

and accomplished redemption for His people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us.

These were the first words Zacharias spoke since questioning Gabriel in Luke 1:18. Zacharias had at least nine months to ponder how his words would be different should he ever be allowed to speak again. When his tongue was finally loosed, he spoke the praise of God (v. 64).

Do you ever have a “loose tongue,” talking too much about things you shouldn’t? Ask God to loose your tongue for praising Him. What a difference it will make in the lives of those you love!

Filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 67), pray Zacharias’ words, making them your own (vs. 68-79).

“Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel and

of my family, for You have visited us

and accomplished redemption for Your people. 

You have raised up a horn of salvation

 for us in the house of David Your servant—

as You spoke by the mouth of

 Your holy prophets from of old—

Salvation from our enemies and

 from the hand of all who hate us;

to show mercy toward our fathers

 and to remember Your holy covenant,

the oath which You swore to Abraham

 our father, to grant us that we,

being rescued from the hand of

our enemies, might serve You without fear,

in holiness and righteousness, before

 You all our days.  LORD, make us Your people who

 go with You to give Your people

the knowledge of salvation

 by the forgiveness of their sins,

because of Your tender mercy, with

which the Sunrise from on high has visited us,

to shine upon those who sit

 in darkness and the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

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

The Song of Mary - Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 1:26-55.  The Song of Mary is found in verses 46-55.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/luk/1/1/s_974001

Meditate on verses 46b-47a.

My soul exalts the LORD, and my spirit

 has rejoiced in God my Savior,

for He has had regard for

the humble state of His bondslave.

How excited Gabriel must have been to receive God’s order to announce to Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus! For 4,000 years, every Old Testament believer had put their faith in the coming of Messiah, and now Mary was to be the human vessel through whom God would put on flesh to be the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sinfulness of all mankind.

Bask in the CHRISTmas story like never before this year, asking God to reveal new insights into His miracles of Christ’s birth. Give yourself to God saying: “Behold, the bondslave of the LORD; may it be done to me according Your Word” (v. 38).

After making that commitment to Christ, Mary’s song can be your song, too (vs. 46-55). Say/sing it to Him as His faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“My soul exalts You, LORD, and my spirit

rejoices in You, God, my Savior.

For You have regard for the humble state of Your bondslave;

for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

 For You, the Mighty One, have done great things for me,

and holy is Your name.  Your mercy is upon generation

after generation toward those who fear You. 

You have done mighty deeds with Your arm;

You have scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their heart. 

You have broken down rulers from their thrones,

and You have exalted those who were humble. 

You have filled the hungry with good things and sent

 away the rich empty-handed.  You have given

 help to Israel, Your servant, in remembrance of Your mercy,

as You spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

Thank You, Jesus Messiah~”

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

Habakkuk's Song - Praying God's Word

Please read Habakkuk 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/hab/3/1/s_906001

Habakkuk’s Song

Meditate on verses 17-18.

Though the fig tree should not blossom

and there be no fruit on the vines,

though the yield of the olive should fail

 and the fields produce no food,

though the flock should be cut off from the fold

 and there be no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will exult in the LORD;

 I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk wrote this prayer for the choir to sing while waiting for God to fulfill a vision He had given him (Habakkuk 2:2-3; 3:19b). Waiting is difficult, and because Habakkuk wanted a choir to sing about it, you know that Habakkuk’s was a public waiting, where people probably questioned if God would even fulfill His Word for the vision.

Let this song encourage you in the midst of the wait. Observe how Habakkuk waited. He stayed focused on the LORD. He recalled God’s faithfulness in the past; he waited, expecting God’s faithfulness in the future. And, no matter what happened, Habakkuk rejoiced in God (v. 18).

While you are waiting, let the LORD take you to His Spiritual high place, fixing your thoughts and joy on Him (vs. 18-19).

Pray Habakkuk 3:17-19 with wholehearted faith, as God’s faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Though the fig tree should not blossom

and there be no fruit on the vines,

though the yield of the olive should fail

 and the fields produce no food,

though the flock should be cut off from the fold

and there be no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will exult in You, LORD, I will

rejoice (joy) in You, God of my salvation.

LORD GOD, You are my strength,

and You have made my feet like hinds' feet,

make me walk on Your high places.

For the glory of Your name, Jesus~”

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

Lamentations 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read Lamentations 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/lam/5/1/s_802001

Meditate on verses 15-16.

The joy of our hearts has ceased;

 our dancing has been turned into mourning. 

The crown has fallen from our head;

woe to us, for we have sinned!

The Israelites learned the hard way that sin has serious consequences. Thankfully, they acknowledged that it was indeed their sins that caused their horrific circumstances; they were responsible for the punishment inflicted by God on them and their children.

Quickly recognizing and admitting personal sin is an important step to take as you mature in Christ. Confessing your sins and asking for God’s forgiveness is the next step. Desiring to never commit those sins again is the third step. And, walking obediently with the LORD is the joy-filled fourth step.

Let Lamentations be a good reminder of how lamentable sin is and how much God hates it. And if you find yourself lackadaisical towards sin and its consequences, reread the book; then fall on your face before God, confessing and repenting.  The lives of so many are at stake.

Pray Lamentations 5:1, 15-16, and 19-22 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Remember, O LORD, what has befallen __________ and me;

 look, and see our reproach!

The joy of our hearts has ceased;

 our dancing has been turned into mourning. 

The crown has fallen from our head;

woe to us, for we have sinned!

You, O LORD, rule forever; Your throne is

 from generation to generation.

Please do not forget us forever! 

Please do not forsake us so long!

Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored;

 renew our days as of old.

Please do not utterly reject us and

 be exceedingly angry with us.

Because we belong to You, Jesus~”

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

Lamentations 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Lamentations 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/lam/4/1/

Meditate on verse 11.

The LORD has accomplished His wrath;

 He has poured out His fierce anger,

and He has kindled a fire in Zion,

which has consumed its foundations.

God’s punishment of Jerusalem for relentless sin was fierce, and no one was left unscathed. Lamentations 4 vividly describes how absolutely horrific the circumstances were inside the walls of the city, so horrendous that even compassionate mamas were boiling and eating their own children because of starvation (v. 10).

You may have a variety of emotions toward this chapter of the Bible. Perhaps you are crying out, “How could God allow such a thing?” Keep in mind: sin is lamentable, its consequences grievous, and God’s wrath for it completely justifiable and righteous. God warned the Jews over and over of what would happen if they refused to obey Him, but they loved their sinful lifestyles more than they loved the LORD, so the events recorded in Lamentations were some of the results.

As you take Lamentations to heart, ask God to help you see sin the way He does, no longer taking it lightly or considering it to be no big deal. Sin is a huge deal to God, and one proof of your salvation is that sin no longer lords over you; Jesus does.

Come to the LORD, humbly repenting and begging Him not to have to do Lamentations 4:11 and 16 to you and those you are guarding as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please forgive _________ and me.

May we obey You, so You do not

have to accomplish Your wrath

and pour out Your fierce anger. 

Let us follow You so You do not kindle

 a fire and consume us.  We do not want to be scattered

 from Your presence.  Please continue to regard us.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

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