Join us in today’s devotion and prayer-
Read Joel 2:1-17 in your favorite version or in the following KJV and then join us in praying below:
Joel 2:1-17
2 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (KJV)
Our Father,
As in the time of Joel, we face natural catastrophes around the world and in our own country. Many voices are calling for extreme measures to remediate what they see as human causes for the ‘global warming’ and extreme weather changes.
You have also declared in Your Word that there would be extreme weather problems and natural disasters in the ‘Last Days’ before Your Son Jesus returns.
Regardless of the ultimate causes for the natural calamities that we are continuing to face; it is always a good time to seek to be closer to You since You are our shield and protector in the midst of it all.
The prophet Joel counseled ancient Judah to return to You with all of their hearts; to
rend their hearts rather than their clothes and come closer to You instead of responding with traditional religious acts. We also seek to come closer to You and come alive in Your Holy Spirit rather than continuing in dead religious traditions and practices that deny Your power.
We pray for our own nation to return to You, our Lord and God; for You are always gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. We pray for blessings upon our nation instead of judgment; a new Spiritual awakening and revival rather than disaster.
Thank you Father for always being there for us; Your promises in Your Word the Bible are still valid and real for us today in the midst of pandemics, droughts, pestilence, wars, extreme weather, and everything that is happening in our world. Let your Kingdom come and be in our midst now and forevermore.
Let Your Word be confirmed in this unbelieving nation; let signs and wonders, miracles and healings, demonstrate the truth of Your Gospel in this generation and in all nations around the world.
In Jesus name, Amen.