Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

August 25

Micah 7

Micah laments the degradation of his fellow men, but hopes in the Lord.

INSIGHT

Micah sets his narrative in an imaginary courtroom where he pours out scathing rebuke on the injustice he sees in the fellow men around him. The evidence is brought forth and the children of Israel are found guilty. Sins swarm from Micah's pen, filling the first third of his book. The second portion of this book addresses sin. Jerusalem will be destroyed, and the people will be banished to captivity in Babylon. Typical of the prophets of God, the third part of the book tells of hope. A divine Deliverer will appear, and once again justice and righteousness will reign.

PRAYER

Thank the Lord that He heals our emotional pain, and praise Him because He restores our hope and joy:
The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works. . .
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine
(Psalm 33:13-15, 18-19).

Now express any additional thoughts of praise, adoration, or thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  (Psalm 32:10-11).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Sensitivity to the needs of others
-- Strength for missionaries in Brazil
-- Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him (1 John 3:1).

[Judy Harder]

August 26

Nahum 1

Nahum warns Nineveh to turn from idolatry and to be true to her vows.

INSIGHT

Nahum is sent from God to urge repentance again. This message must seem absurd. In the ensuing years, Nineveh has grown into the most powerful city in the known world. Her walls seem impregnable. Water totally surrounds the city, and inside there is a self-sufficient agricultural system. Feeling independent, she does not repent. The Babylonian army marches through the breach in the wall—and Nineveh falls. The Word of God is sure!

PRAYER

Praise God that He can overrule what seems to be impossible:
The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord;
And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
You have given him his heart's desire,
And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah (Psalm 21:1-2).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and despised of the people. . . .
I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother's womb
You have been My God.
Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help (Psalm 22:6, 10-11).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You who fear the Lord, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard (Psalm 22:23-24).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Compassion for the less fortunate
-- Strength for those who minister to the homeless
-- Your activities for today

Offer this closing prayer to God:
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
For the kingdom is the Lord's,
And He rules over the nations. . .
They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this (Psalm 22:27-28, 31).

[Judy Harder]

August 27

Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk exults in the God of his salvation.

INSIGHT

Habakkuk wrestles with God concerning the sinfulness of his fellow Jews: "Why does God not do something? Why does God not judge His people?" As Habakkuk puts these questions to Him, the Lord responds that He is doing something: He is raising up the Chaldeans to come and conquer Judah. Astounded by this revelation, Habakkuk cries out, "How can you use a nation that is more sinful than Judah to conquer it?" God's answer? God's people deserve judgment. The righteousness of the instrument of judgment is inconsequential. And as far as Habakkuk is concerned, "the just shall live by his faith" (2:4). Habakkuk responds in faith that, even if disaster strikes, he will rejoice because God is his strength.

PRAYER

Because the Lord can be trusted, offer Him your praise:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. . .
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. . .
Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:3-4, 6-8).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).

Pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Greater love for others
-- Mission work in the Middle East

Offer this closing prayer to God:
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).

[Judy Harder]

August 28

Zephaniah 3

Beyond impending judgment there is joy.

INSIGHT

Blue blood flows through Zephaniah's veins. He is the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, the thirteenth king of Judah and one of the most righteous of all kings. The flame for revival and religious reform burns as hot in Zephaniah's heart as it did in his forefathers'. Zephaniah's book has been called one of the "hottest" books in the Old Testament. He portrays "the final crash of the universe." The impending Day of the Lord is his all-encompassing message. Twenty-three times in this short book he refers specifically to the day that signifies the final judgment of God on the earth. Following the time of terrible judgment is the time of restoration and peace. Beyond judgment there is joy.

PRAYER

Give thanks to the Lord, and praise Him that all events are in His control and that eventually His children will know only joy:
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works (Psalm 145:6-9).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. . .
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust
(Psalm 103:8, 13-14).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Greater faithfulness in sharing Christ
-- The work of the Lord in national and world affairs

In closing, ask God to help you:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen (2 Peter 3:18).

[Judy Harder]

August 29

Haggai 1

Haggai explains that God's people suffer because they neglect to finish the temple.

INSIGHT

As the children of Israel return from the Babylonian captivity, their first order of business is to rebuild the temple. Haggai, a prophet of God who is ministering at the time, encourages the people to work hard at restoring the temple. With great enthusiasm, they quickly lay the foundation. But discouragement sets in and work on the temple is soon forgotten as they begin to build their own houses. Finally, after 15 years, Haggai tells them that the afflictions they are suffering are because of their neglect of the temple. They must finish the temple first and then resume building their houses. First things first. God demands proper priorities.

PRAYER

Offer the Lord this psalm of praise as you express your gratitude for His justice:
O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? (2 Chronicles 20:6).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness, 
That the bones which You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities (Psalm 51:7-9).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Your development of an eternal perspective
-- Your spiritual goals
-- Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

[Judy Harder]

August 30

Zechariah 14

The day is coming when God will be the righteous King over all the earth.

INSIGHT

Haggai and Zechariah minister to the same people at the same time. Their goal is the same: to motivate the people to rebuild the temple. But their very different personalities show through the pages of Scripture. Haggai utters rebuke; Zechariah breathes encouragement. Haggai makes them feel that they ought to rebuild the temple. Zechariah makes them want to rebuild the temple. He reinforces God's love and care for Israel and the certainty of the ultimate defeat of the enemies as they continue to obey God.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that His Word can be trusted:
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
"How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name"
Selah (Psalm 66:1-4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise (Psalm 51:14-15).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Greater personal discipline
-- Persecuted Christians worldwide
-- Your activities for the day

Now, offer this closing prayer to God:
May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21

[Judy Harder]

August 31

Malachi 3

Malachi charges the Israelites with robbing God and refusing to acknowledge it.

INSIGHT

The Israelites who returned to Jerusalem have grown comfortable, complacent, and arrogantly insensitive. Through His messenger Malachi, God confronts the Israelites with their complacency. He charges that the priests are despising His name and defiling His altar. God says He will no longer accept their offerings. He states that the Israelites have been wearisome to Him with their words. God asks them to return to Him. He reproaches them for robbing Him. The Israelites have hardened their hearts, and they no longer feel the pull of God in their lives. The result is a barren period of 400 years with no word from God. Be certain that you respond to the work of God in your heart—lest you experience spiritual barrenness.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord for enriching our lives when we follow Him:
Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due,
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You (Jeremiah 10:6-7).

Pray this confession to the Lord to keep your life free from sin:
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared (Psalm 130:1-4).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:.

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Growth as you pursue your full potential as a child of God
-- The fulfillment of the Great Commission
-- Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to God:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

[Judy Harder]

September 1

Acts 1

After the Ascension, the apostles meet in an upper room to choose a replacement for Judas.

INSIGHT

God is moving. For thousands of years He has worked in the world through the nation of Israel and the Law of Moses. Now He will work through the church and the gospel of Christ. God instructs the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high. Then when they are baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit, they are to be the Lord's witnesses in their city, the surrounding country, and the entire world.

PRAYER

Offer God this psalm of praise as you think about His power and the significance of serving Him:
The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them. . . .
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever. (Psalm 145:17-19, 21)

Having offered Him your praise, pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
(Isaiah 55:6-7)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and
might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 7:12)

The Lord encourages us to come to Him with our concerns and desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Compassion for others
The Lord's work in national and world affairs
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and
blessing!" (Revelation 5:12) 

[Judy Harder]

September 2

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit comes upon the believing Jews gathered at the temple.

INSIGHT

Who would have expected the coming of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament to be like this? Rushing wind. Fire. Many languages spoken and all being understood. Those with unbelieving hearts always find a "natural" explanation, but those who believe drop to their knees and cry out to God! "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (2:37). Revelation always demands a response. Unbelievers always look for a way to get out from under the authority of Scripture. But the believing heart will cry out, "O God, what shall I do?" Search your mind. Is there some response you should make to God right now?

PRAYER

As you continue to meditate on God's Word, offer praises to the Lord as you respond to His revelation:
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
(Psalm 145:6-9)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and as you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. . . .
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139:14, 23-24)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Patience in difficult circumstances
Wisdom for your church leaders
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34) 

[Judy Harder]

September 3

Acts 7

Stephen is arrested for preaching the Gospel.

INSIGHT

The New Testament was written in times that, in many ways, seem barbaric to us. That respectable people would clamor for a crucifixion or incite a mob to riot or pick up stones and kill another man is difficult for us to imagine. Yet culture was different then. Today we do not kill a person to get rid of an unwanted message. Instead, we use other tactics. We can kill the message by making it look foolish or by discrediting the messenger. We even attack God Himself, declaring that He is dead or that He has no relevance to our era. But unless we accept the message of salvation that Stephen preached, we are as guilty before God as the ones who threw the stones.

PRAYER

Thank the Lord and praise Him for offering us abundant life in Christ:
All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
(Psalm 145:10-13)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"Come now, and let us reason together,"
Says the Lord,
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Greater love for your fellow Christians
The work of missionaries in Indonesia
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)