Daily Prayer for April 25, 2021
Daily Prayer for April 25, 2021

Prayer: Our great God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we bless your name today because you are the only true God and our God. You have called us and redeemed us that we may live as salt and light in a dark world. From the pit of misery, you have pulled us out and set our feet on the solid rock, which is your Son. Through his righteousness, you have imputed to us righteousness and accepted us as your children. We belong to you, and, therefore, you hear us when we pray. We thank you for our great High Priest who daily prays for us. We thank you that you have given us the Lord's Day when we come apart from our worldly cares and concerns and focus our attention on your majesty. With your people, we gather today to praise you and hear from you. We pray that you would speak from heaven today and encourage your people. Please grant to your ministers your Holy Spirit as they preach your Word. Please cause us to hear and do that which we hear for your glory and our good. We pray these things in the name of your Son, our Lord. Amen.

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prayerWilliam Hill
How God Listens to Us
How God Listens to Us

Everyday Prayer with John Calvin
Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25

This passage describes the joy of the New Jerusalem yet to come, and all that will be for the citizens of the New City. It is with great excitement that we look forward to that day. There are tremendous benefits to this City, and we do well to allow our minds to drift towards them as they are here summarized.

First, note the attitude in which the saints will demonstrate upon the arrival of the New Jerusalem: they will be glad and rejoice! (65:18). This attitude undergirds the entire passage as it gives reasons why we will rejoice and be glad. Even today, as we await this New Jerusalem, we have reason to rejoice and be glad. Our chief end in life is to glorify our God and Redeemer and enjoy him. We do this, in part, today through the celebration of the Lord's Day that our God has been pleased to grant. On that day, we taste in part the heavenly joys of the New City that will come.

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prayerWilliam Hill
Daily Prayer for April 22, 2021
Daily Prayer for April 22, 2021

Prayer: Our God in heaven, we bow before you today to pray and plead with you for the things we need. We know that we need prayer, and we know that we have been granted access to you through your Son. Thank you for the great privilege afforded to us when we can come to you and commune with you. We confess our weakness in prayer. We confess our prayerless prayers. We confess that we do not pray as we ought, and we do not pray nearly enough. Forgive us for such laziness in our prayer lives. Forgive us for not spending the time each day to plead with you for our nation, our world, our families, our churches, and our lost friends and loved ones. Forgive us for not being godly examples of prayer to our children. Forgive us for not gathering with your people to pray with them. We grieve our poor efforts and know that you are patient with us though we often stray in this area. Please help us and remind us to pray more and to plead with you, the one true God and sovereign of all things. Thank you for forgiving us and grant to us a true heart of repentance in this area. We pray these things in the name of the one who is mediating for us each day, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Opening Our Hearts Before God
Opening Our Hearts Before God

This entire section of the sixty-third chapter is a prayer of lament and penitence. Some commentators believe this prayer continues through the next chapter. In these verses, what is important to note is that the prophet is addressing God, and he is pouring out his heart before him. The reason is simple: the people of God have turned from the ways they were commanded to go. They had fled from their God and are reaping the effects of it (63:17). The prophet pleads on behalf of the people, and he does so as one who addresses God as "Father." Twice in this passage (63:16), God is addressed in this manner. The point of the address is that Jehovah is to be seen and approached as a child would come to their earthly father -- pouring out their hearts and emotions before him. We have witnessed this many times, I'm sure, with our children. Something happens, and they come rushing to their father with great emotion, saying whatever comes to mind. That is the idea here. The prophet is pleading with the Father of heaven (63:15) on behalf of his soul, his people, and God's people.

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prayerWilliam Hill
Those Whose Cause is Just
Those Whose Cause is Just

This passage is a severe indictment aimed at those who hold power, whether it be the civil magistrate or leaders of churches. The issue is the same: they are heaping on the people unjust and burdensome laws and ruling with tyranny, forcing them into harmful and evil things. Note what the prophet states in 10:1, "Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees." The term ("woe") is pregnant with meaning. It is a word of great warning towards those who would commit such evil and decree such evil over the people. The description of the problem is evident: the leaders are demanding evil, sinful things over the people, and the result is that the people live in despicable circumstances. The prophet offers a list of the atrocities of such people: First, they "turn aside the needy from justice." That is, the leaders are not interested in justice as God determines it in his Word. They are perverting justice and using it for their gain. Second, "they rob the poor of my people of their right." That amplifies the first charge in that it plainly states that God's people are to be afforded due justice. This justice is to be afforded all of God's people, not merely the rich but the poor as well. Third, The "widows [are] their spoil." True religion consists of caring for the weak and helpless -- the widow (Cp. James 1:27). Fourth, they "make the fatherless their prey." They take advantage of a lack of leadership in the home and use it for their sinful gain. None of this passes the attention of Jehovah. He sees it and warns these evil leaders. He tells them that they will not escape their treachery. They will have no help on the day of judgment.

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William Hill
Daily Prayer for April 20, 2021
Daily Prayer for April 20, 2021

Prayer: Almighty God and Father, we gladly bow before your throne today to offer you our sacrifice of praise as the one true God of heaven and earth. You are the alone sovereign of heaven and earth, ordering all affairs and actions of men to your own glory and the good of your people. We confess that we are often bewildered by your providence as we attempt to do what we should not do: peer into the secret chambers of your divine will. As a result, we fret and worry and grow anxious. Instead of turning to you with complete trust, we begin to allow our minds to wander into worry, which accomplishes nothing. Mentally, we can say with confidence that you are in the heavens and do what you please and what you do is good and right. Emotionally, however, we wrestle to make sense of all of it. You have told us to trust you, so please help us to do so. We know we easily wander into speculating about your will. Still, we also find great security in knowing that we are the apple of your eye, your treasured possession, and a people of whom you have placed your eternal love. So, be patient with us, Father. Please grant us a greater measure of your Spirit that we might trust you today with the problems of today and not borrow trouble from the future. We pray these things in the name of your beloved Son, our Lord, and Savior. Amen.

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William Hill
Daily Prayer for April 19, 2021: WSC 4 (7)
Daily Prayer for April 19, 2021: WSC 4 (7)

Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)

Prayer: Almighty God, you are the one that we praise and adore. With great thanksgiving, we come to you to pray to you and praise you for the many mercies that you pour out on undeserving creatures. We are creatures of dust. We are here today, and we are gone tomorrow. We are a flower that quickly fades. Yet, you are from everlasting to everlasting, infinitely holy in all your works and words. We confess that we often forget that your holiness requires that we be holy as you are holy. You have redeemed us to this end, that we would be like your Son, the righteous One. Forgive us, Father, for not striving after holiness in our lives. Forgive us for forgetting that your holy eyes behold all that we do. Please grant us a greater measure of your Spirit that we would strive for holiness as you have commanded. We thank you for helping us. We pray these things in the name of the Savior. Amen.

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prayerWilliam Hill