October 4 Bible reading

October 4  Psalm 116:12-19  Colossians 1:1-23  Jeremiah 7:30-34; 8; 9:1-16

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

October 4  Psalm 116:12-19  Colossians 1:1-23  Jeremiah 7:30-34; 8; 9:1-16

Psalm 116:12-19

How can I thank God for all He has done? Psalm 116:12-14 is an amazing refrain. We cannot give more to God than He has already given to us. In appreciation for our salvation, we can live out of a “Thank You”. This includes a lifestyle of wholehearted devotion. “God, thank You! God, I am with You heart and soul. God, I love You. God, I will live for You with the best of my energy.” Psalm 116:16-19 provide this kind of passionate cry of gratitude. We can make promises to God and keep them with the help of our spiritual community. In the middle of this passage, we find Psalm 116:15 and a discovery that God “cares deeply when His loved ones die”. Are we reading a song for a memorial service? Are they reflecting on what they have learned about God, during a time of grieving the loss of a loved one?

Colossians 1:1-23

Here we read the guidance for people who are following Jesus. They are faithful. They are known for showing love to people who are across cultural lines. This love of theirs came from a confident hope that Jesus Christ prepares a place in Heaven. It is a love from the Holy Spirit. Paul writes to the church in Colosse, just 100 miles from Ephesus. We don’t know if he had ever visited. This church started in the home of Philemon about the same time that the Ephesian church started. Paul writes to refute false teaching about the person and work of Jesus. “Grace and peace, agape love for all people, faith, and confident hope”. This is a list of values that are of great importance. They are phrases commonly used to describe thriving local churches. The Colossians show a supernatural love for others, as a result of receiving the Good News of Jesus. Paul & Timothy are praying that God would give the Colossians spiritual wisdom, understanding, endurance, joy, patience, and an ability to recognize the guidance of God. Jesus is our redemption, ransom, visible image of God who existed before human time, the head of the church body and the peacemaker. Jesus is the one who brought us (who were once far from God) into the presence of God. We must continue to “believe this truth and stand firmly in it”. Just like the Colossians, we should read this passage and let its truth shape our perspective. It brings us to the reality of who Jesus is.

Jeremiah 7:30-34; 8; 9:1-16

God speaks through Jeremiah, revealing what He has been thinking and feeling while watching the self-destructive path His people have been on. Jeremiah is overwhelmed by grief in hearing God’s reaction to their sin. Many times over, God explains that this punishment on the people is the direct consequences of their abandonment of Him and His Word.

October 3 Bible reading

October 3  Proverbs 24:5-14  Philippians 4:2-23  Jeremiah 6; 7:1-29

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

October 3  Proverbs 24:5-14  Philippians 4:2-23  Jeremiah 6; 7:1-29

Proverbs 24:5-14

Finding wisdom is good for you. It is better than physical strength. Proverbs warn us to be careful about who we get advice from. We should seek counsel from multiple qualified advisors. We are compelled to rescue people headed to their death. Claiming ignorance of their spiritual plight is not an acceptable excuse to God. We read about this in Proverbs 24:11-12. It connects well with the instruction Jesus gave Paul that is described in Acts 26:14-18 (and explained in Romans 2:1-8). Today we can share the purpose of bringing people to Jesus Christ for their own rescue. Please read these passages and consider what this means to you. Each of us carries a spiritual purpose every day. One day we will give an account of how we carried the spiritual blessing of Jesus.

Philippians 4:2-23

Paul calls the Philippians to enjoy a state of happiness from their relationship with God. Looking toward the return of Jesus he calms anxiety and induces prayer with thanksgiving. Peace comes from choosing joy in this way. This peace can bring a protection to what we are thinking and how we are feeling. We must choose to focus our thoughts on what is “true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise”. The God of peace is with us. From this Paul learned to live at peace in any situation. This is why he could write, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength”. From His glorious riches God will provide for all the needs of those who choose Courageous Generosity. Today our response to this should include the motivation for us to be in a consistent conversation with God. Let’s abandon any fixation on our worries. Let’s bring our requests to God. Let’s thank God for all He has done. Then God will bring peace as a guiding influence in our lives. Let’s focus on good things as we follow Jesus. God will take care of us.

Jeremiah 6; 7:1-29

After seeing generations of His people reject Him and worship other gods, our Creator God has grown tired of holding back His anger. Through many prophets (and now Jeremiah) God has called for repentance and warned of punishment. In their rebellion, the Israelites are proud of their Temple, treating God with superstition. They believed that the Temple would keep them from God’s judgment. God debunks this myth, with words Jesus quoted, referring to it as a “den of thieves”. This is aimed at their rejection of a relationship with God in favor of bad religion. God loves people. God calls people to repentance because He knows what is best for them. Love is always in God’s motivation.

October 2 Bible reading

October 2  Psalm 116:1-11  Philippians 3; 4:1  Jeremiah 4:10-31; 5

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

October 2  Psalm 116:1-11  Philippians 3; 4:1  Jeremiah 4:10-31; 5

Psalm 116:1-11

God is listening to what we are saying to Him. And so, let us be in conversation with God. Let our souls be at rest because God has been good to us. In this honest relationship with God, we can express our thoughts and feelings. Fearing for his life, the songwriter called on God for rescue in Psalm 116. Through real-life experience, he learned that God listened to his cries. In Psalm 116 the songwriter calms himself with the memory of God’s rescue of him in the past. This is a way to draw strength from your relationship with God at a time when you are facing a challenge.

Philippians 3; 4:1

In my life, there is nothing more valuable than knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I rely on what Jesus has done to make my salvation possible. I must not rely on any good deed I have done as a basis for my relationship with God. It is a mistake to think only about this life here on earth. Everything about our life should be informed by the truth that Jesus will return in victory. Passionately Paul writes of the essential nature of relying on faith in Jesus as our means of salvation and not our own righteous deeds. He refutes the false teachers and their manipulation of God’s Word. They were trying to gain influence by teaching that circumcision and obedience to Jewish customs were essential to salvation. Having obeyed each of these laws, Paul writes that faith in Christ has brought salvation. His obedience to these laws did not bring about his salvation. Paul writes that he will daily pursue personal spiritual growth and obedience to God, as long as he lives.

Jeremiah 4:10-31; 5

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God calls His people to a change of heart so that they may be saved. Jeremiah weeps for the people and the pain resulting from their walking away from God. Jeremiah mourns the unrepentant state of his people. God sends Jeremiah looking for even just one honest person. God is searching for people with an honest heart toward Him. Yet Jeremiah sees the people refusing to repent of their sin and rejecting the God who created it all. They became ignorant of God’s ways. They forgot just how good it had been to be in a relationship with God. The people preferred their spiritual leaders, who were corrupt, instead of God. How foolish is it to walk away from the God who controls the ocean?!? This is tragic. It is described here as heart-wrenching.

October 1 Bible reading

October 1  Psalm 115:12-18  Philippians 2:12-30  Jeremiah 2:31-37; 3; 4:1-9

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

October 1  Psalm 115:12-18  Philippians 2:12-30  Jeremiah 2:31-37; 3; 4:1-9

Psalm 115:12-18

God is faithful in love and worthy of our praise. Today we have an opportunity to bless God, to praise our Creator. The Psalms help us wake up to the fact that God has already blessed us. There’s a real benefit to choosing to wholeheartedly praise God. We will experience peace as we choose to rely on God completely. Our Redeemer has proven His character in many ways. One way we see this is how God has related to the people of Israel. Psalm 115 details this lesson for us. We also see that God has been generous with us. God has given us an opportunity to be stewards of the earth.

Philippians 2:12-30

The love of Jesus has been seen in the record of his life. It is extraordinary! Jesus is faithful, patient, kind, compassionate, and selfless in this love. Paul writes a moving recommendation for how we should respond to the supernatural love of Jesus. God is working in us, doing things that we cannot. God is reshaping our desires. God is giving us new strength for the purpose of following Jesus. We can live in a way that reflects those changes. Every day we have an opportunity to live like Jesus and share His love. Timothy and Epaphroditus were examples of this. They show us one way to respond to the model of sacrificial love Jesus provided. When we walk this faith journey connected with other believers it becomes a joyful shared experience. Pauls’ team showed us an example of this as well.

Jeremiah 2:31-37; 3; 4:1-9

God asks if His people value Him more than they do their most valuable possession. “Have you forgotten about me?” God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to the nation of Israel. They have been unfaithful, serving other gods, despite the fact that God had remained faithful to them. In Jeremiah 3:9 it reads, “Israel treated it all so lightly.” God counted the sins of the 2 tribes of Judah as worse than the sins of the 10 tribes of Israel. God called them back to the restoration of a relationship with Him. The call included the following steps for them to take: acknowledge your guilt, confess your wrong, return to a relationship with God, follow the guidance of spiritual shepherds God sent to them. God is looking for a change of heart. They people realized that their spiritual idolatry has been delusional. God promised them a return to their Promised Land. After generations of evil leaders, God promised to give them leaders after His own heart. God promises to one day draw people from every nation into worship. We are now living in that promise fulfilled.

September 30 Bible reading

September 30  Psalm 115:1-11  Philippians 1:27-30; 2:1-11  Jeremiah 1; 2:1-30

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

September 30  Psalm 115:1-11  Philippians 1:27-30; 2:1-11  Jeremiah 1; 2:1-30

Psalm 115:1-11

God has not failed us. God is faithful in loving us. God is in the heavens and is worthy of our praise. Some people may scoff at our devotion to God. It is possible that they are devoted to things that cannot compare to the One True Living God. Let us praise the living God who is overflowing with faithful love. Our God will help and protect those who trust in Him. What is God like? What should I expect from God? This Psalm should inform the start of our day.

Philippians 1:27-30; 2:1-11

We should live in light of the truth of our identity as people whom Jesus has given new spiritual life. We share an amazing opportunity to live as people who have been redeemed. It is a gift to be able to trust Jesus. What God has done for me through Jesus brings peace. My decisions and my lifestyle can be informed by this peace. This changes how I look at the challenges I am facing. Paul and the Philippians looked at their opportunity to suffer for Jesus as a gift. In Philippians 2:1-11 Paul brings encouraging comfort from the love of Jesus Christ. When we consider deeply the example of Jesus we are motivated to live in this same say, sharing the love. And so let us abandon a “me first” approach to life. Let us choose Jesus-kind-of-agape-love. We can be faithful, patient, and kind to others because this is the way that Jesus first loved us. From this, we can be motivated to choose humility and selfless love. One day everyone will recognize the power of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 1; 2:1-30

Jeremiah heard God’s voice. It shaped the way that he understood his own identity, value, and purpose. Jeremiah serves as a prophet to Judah for 66 years, recounting the history of their last 5 kings. He called them to repentance, showing God’s grace & mercy in the invitation. Jeremiah was able to do this because God commissioned Him to do so and gave him the ability to do so. God prepared him for the work and the opposition. God loves His people. Nothing good comes from His people turning away from Him. The Israelites worshipped other gods and their spiritual infidelity brought pain. It hurt God and it hurt them. We see in Jeremiah 1:12 that God is alive, aware, able, and active. In Jeremiah 2:5 God asks, “What did your ancestors find wrong with me?” We should learn from their story.

September 29 Bible reading

September 29  Proverbs 23:29-35; 24:1-4  Philippians 1:1-26  Zephaniah 1; 2; 3

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

September 29  Proverbs 23:29-35; 24:1-4  Philippians 1:1-26  Zephaniah 1; 2; 3

Proverbs 23:29-35; 24:1-4

Proverbs paints a sad picture of the consequences of the slow development of alcohol abuse. In contrast, we see a home where God-sourced wisdom is a priority. Through such wisdom, people can put knowledge to use and bring its benefits. Careful consideration of these passages will help you regardless of your relationship with substances. God is trying to help us understand the best way to live.

Philippians 1:1-26

In Acts 16 we read the story of Paul & Silas singing praise to God despite being imprisoned for their faith. This resulted in the start of the church in Philippi. Despite being imprisoned again, Paul writes about faith, love, unity, and humility as the foundation of life-changing joy. After praying for them from afar, Paul shares his confidence in the Holy Spirit’s help for their personal spiritual growth. Paul expresses his desire to see their focus on what is most important and that they see the benefits of their salvation. He is warning them of false teachers. We read about the high value of love, learning, priorities, and purity within the Christian church. Spiritual growth results in our experiencing the joy of salvation.

Zephaniah 1; 2; 3

During the reign of King Josiah, the prophet Zephaniah prepares people for God’s judgment on those who would not receive Him as Lord and to comfort the faithful remnant with promises of restoration. Both Zephaniah and Josiah were great-great-grandsons of Hezekiah. As a descendant of David, Zephaniah predicts the second coming of Jesus and the preservation of the church. We also read a description of God, as a mighty Savior, living among His people. God is seen as singing with joy. God’s love has calmed their fear. This is the relationship God desires.

September 28 Bible reading

September 28  Psalm 114  Ephesians 6  Nahum 1-3

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

September 28  Psalm 114  Ephesians 6  Nahum 1-3

Psalm 114

We hear a playful description of the mountains, rivers, and seas responding to the power of God. These grand features of our natural environment are beyond the control of any human. Yet they are subject to God. The Israelites witnessed such power for the purpose of their protection and provision. Psalm 114 recounts specific ways that God had done miracles with physical objects to take care of His people. In the exodus from Egypt, God provided a dry path for them through the Red Sea. God did the same thing with the Jordan River. God brought drinking water out of rock. People of faith remembered these events. They told the stories of God revealing Himself to be the One who would take care of them. What stories about God are you telling?

Ephesians 6

Paul and the Ephesian believers found new life in Jesus Christ. It was now shaping their identity, purpose, and values. Paul continues with guidance on how we should live. This is informed by the first three chapters of truth on how God’s love for us transforms our lives. Family relationships, work relationships, and all relationships can be approached with the loving peace of Jesus as a priority. We are called to stand in faith through the spiritual struggle of life on this earth. We can access help from God through alert, persistent Spirit-led prayer. The spiritual strength discussed in Ephesians 3:14-21 includes the believer walking in the truth, righteousness, salvation, peace, faith, and spiritual power available through Jesus Christ.

Nahum 1-3

The people of Nineveh, Assyria’s capital, had received mercy from God when they repented of sin in response to God’s message through Jonah. 150 years later the people of Nineveh had rebelled against God and their current sin was worse than it was before. Nahum is sent to declare that God will punish the unrepentant guilty. Stubborn proud people will recognize that God is in control, one way or another. God is close to those who trust Him.

September 27 Bible reading

September 27  Psalm 113  Ephesians 5:8-33  Isaiah 65:17-25; 66

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

September 27  Psalm 113  Ephesians 5:8-33  Isaiah 65:17-25; 66

Psalm 113

There is a God who is beyond comparison. This God is alive, aware, able, and active. This God is generous as the Giver of life and grace. This God should be praised everywhere! Psalm 113 calls us to praise the one true living God, who is more majestic than our sky. Let’s praise the God who cares for people who are in need. Let us praise the Lord. God is worth it. It’s reasonable to give the best of your energy, praising God.

Ephesians 5:8-33

With gratitude, we should make the most of each day by living for God. If we have received God’s grace we should carefully search out what pleases Him. This pursuit should direct how we live. Filled with the Holy Spirit we will have the ability to live this way. We have learned about God’s love for us (a love that gives). We can choose to live like Jesus and share His love. This becomes a life-shaping ethic. We live out this faithful, patient, kind love in our marriages because we are now constantly aware of Jesus. Love and respect are essential elements of such a marriage.

Isaiah 65:17-25; 66

God speaks through the prophet Isaiah about a day that will be like no other. Our God will make new the earth and the heavens. There will be everlasting peace. Rejoicing and delight: amazing images of God’s way of peace. Here the living God speaks of His powerful ability. Yahweh God will bless the humble of heart. At the end of our time, God will forgive the repentant and punish the rebellious. God will draw people from all nations (ethnicities) into faithful worship. God will bring His eternal peaceful victory.

September 26 Bible reading

September 26  Psalm 112  Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-7  Isaiah 63; 64; 65:1-16

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

September 26  Psalm 112  Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-7  Isaiah 63; 64; 65:1-16

Psalm 112

Following the guidance of God will improve your quality of life. In this way, it is reasonable to believe that God will take care of you. Who is joyful? People who live in a loving relationship with God. They are constantly aware of God. They show God respect. They are seen in Psalm 112 as generous. God is faithful to His covenant agreements. Responding to God, faith-filled generous people are not overcome by evil in this world but can live out of a confident hope that God will take care of them.

Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-7

Paul writes about our response to the love of God. This includes our searching out the ways that God has said would be healthy for us to live. We are called up out of a life of hopeless confusion. It is a complete change from days when our hearts and minds may be been closed to God. We should make a daily decision to allow the Holy Spirit to renew what we are thinking and feeling. This is an essential ingredient to our decision to live like Jesus and share His love. We should not be deceived by people who are finding reasons to avoid the guidance of God. There will be a day of accountability.

Isaiah 63; 64; 65:1-16

Our God is faithful. Since the beginning of time, no one has seen a god, like our faithful loving God. Faithful in forgiving the repentant and punishing those who refused to repent. God remained available to those who were not recognizing Him as Lord. The prayer of Isaiah 64 comes from someone who has learned about God’s history with people through hundreds of years. In his prayer, we hear about the characteristics of God. How had people observed God to be? What were God’s thoughts, emotions, values, and decision making like? This prayer keeps the requests within the context of what God is like. Here we see the analogy of God as the Potter shaping the clay of our lives. Isaiah 65:10 makes it clear that restoration is coming for people who search for God.

September 25 Bible reading

September 25  Proverbs 23:19-28  Ephesians 4:1-16  Isaiah 60; 61; 62

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

September 25  Proverbs 23:19-28  Ephesians 4:1-16  Isaiah 60; 61; 62

Proverbs 23:19-28

Parents take great joy to see their children grow in wisdom. Everyone in the family is happy to see them use wisdom in decision-making. On our journey from childhood to adulthood, we should learn from those with wisdom, including our parents. Good decision-making, self-control, discernment, and wisdom improve the quality of a person’s life. We can learn to keep our hearts on the right course. This will keep us from self-destructive behaviors and guide us in learning that develops our wisdom in decision making. Sexual promiscuity brings pain.

Ephesians 4:1-16

Paul encourages followers of Jesus Christ to respond to God’s amazing grace with a thankful lifestyle of devotion. He encourages them to live in a way that honors God and reflects God’s love for others. With gracious patient humility, we should pursue unity and peace. Within the church, God has given each person unique gifts. This includes people who function as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. They should be helping people learn how to use their particular abilities. This includes serving others, doing good, strengthening the church, and growing spiritually. Together we can become more like Jesus Christ. We can help each other. The church should be a group of people who are spiritually healthy, growing, and full of love.

Isaiah 60; 61; 62

God speaks through the prophet Isaiah about the coming restoration of the people of Israel. This would follow their return to Him. This includes the blessing that the Messiah would bring to people from every nation. God promises a future for Jerusalem where people from around the world are brought into peaceful worship. Isaiah 61:1-3 helps us understand what the Messiah would be like. God would send One as Savior. What would His purpose be? What would His Kingdom be like? Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 in revealing His identity as Messiah. This informs us as to God’s purpose and passion. Isaiah 61 also references people who would join the Messiah’s work of rebuilding and restoration. In Isaiah 62:6 we see people who would be attentive in their intercession for God’s people. Isaiah’s constant prayer for the people of Jerusalem in Isaiah 62 should inform our prayer for our cities today. We can combine prayer and work, with purpose & passion, to implement the commitments we make to reveal our Messiah, Jesus. One day all people will praise our God of mercy and justice.