Tag: Thoughts

Who Can You Blame

tarynbarnes1 Comment

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“If God continually invests His resources and time into you and you still don’t get it, who can you blame?”~TB

Optics

When you use God’s Holy lens to view your life, you learn not to sweat the small stuff because you understand the greater importance that He has placed on your life. People, situations, problems, and the like are easier to navigate because you see the playing field from a Biblical perspective. Using God’s resources, your trials become less trivial, as you experience peace in even the harshest conditions. Friends, you cannot survive this world successfully without the provisions of God. Step out of your understanding and rely on His.

Myopic

When you refuse to use the Holy resources that are abundantly available, your sight is useless. Everyone else is at fault for your existence and peace is but a dream because you lack the Biblical vision to pass your Holy eye exam. Step back and look again! God has been with you this whole time. The Bible is available to you in every format possible. Quit licking your superficial wounds and cling to the Truth! If you fail to confer with your Father in Heaven, that is your fault. So step off of your sanctimonious cross and use your Holy resources! Stop using your myopic viewpoint and adopt God’s superior vision to life in the Truth.

Today’s Question

Who can you blame if you fail to do your own work?

Enjoy the reading

Psalm 110

1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” 
2 The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem ; you will rule over your enemies. 
3 When you go to war, your people will serve you willingly. You are arrayed in holy garments, and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew. 
4 The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 
5 The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you. He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts. 
6 He will punish the nations and fill their lands with corpses; he will shatter heads over the whole earth. 
7 But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way. He will be victorious.

Mindset

tarynbarnesLeave a comment

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“Set your mind on God to experience His Truth” ~TB

Mind

Your mind is a gift or a curse– depending on how you use it. You can choose to fill it with God’s wisdom, live an obedient life, and be kind to your neighbors. Or, you can fill it with filth, walk around mindlessly, preferring destruction over peace. Sure, those seem drastically different, but the Truth is living in or out of God’s Will Is drastically different. Do not be fooled by the external lives of others. Only God can truly examine one’s heart. Work on your mind and don’t fall prey to the fake minds around you.

Set

When you set your mind, thoughts, and actions of God you rely on His strength and wisdom and not your own. The impossible becomes possible because you understand that you need Him in everything that you are and everything that you do. Allowing God to steer your mind sets you up for the peace and joy He graciously offers. It is a gift like no other and humans are unable to recreate such things. When you set your mind on the things of the flesh, you welcome confusion, stupor, and chaos. Friends, the human mind is incapable of such a Holy Mindset. Rely on Him.

Today’s Question

Is your mind set on God or do you have a fleshly mindset?

Enjoy the reading

Psalm 106

1 Praise the LORD ! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 
2 Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD ? Who can ever praise him enough? 
3 There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. 
4 Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. 
5 Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage. 
6 Like our ancestors, we have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly!
7 Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the LORD ’s miraculous deeds. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea. 
8 Even so, he saved them— to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power. 
9 He commanded the Red Sea to dry up. He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert. 
10 So he rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes. 
11 Then the water returned and covered their enemies; not one of them survived. 
12 Then his people believed his promises. Then they sang his praise. 
13 Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel! 
14 In the wilderness their desires ran wild, testing God’s patience in that dry wasteland. 
15 So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it. 
16 The people in the camp were jealous of Moses and envious of Aaron, the LORD ’s holy priest. 
17 Because of this, the earth opened up; it swallowed Dathan and buried Abiram and the other rebels. 
18 Fire fell upon their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. 
19 The people made a calf at Mount Sinai ; they bowed before an image made of gold. 
20 They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull. 
21 They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt— 
22 such wonderful things in the land of Ham, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea. 
23 So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the LORD and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them. 
24 The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them. 
25 Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the LORD . 
26 Therefore, he solemnly swore that he would kill them in the wilderness, 
27 that he would scatter their descendants among the nations, exiling them to distant lands. 
28Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead! 
29 They angered the LORD with all these things, so a plague broke out among them. 
30 But Phinehas had the courage to intervene, and the plague was stopped. 
31 So he has been regarded as a righteous man ever since that time. 
32 At Meribah, too, they angered the LORD, causing Moses serious trouble. 
33 They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly. 
34 Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land, as the LORD had commanded them. 
35 Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. 
36 They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall. 
37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. 
38 They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder. 
39 They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the LORD ’s sight.
40 That is why the LORD ’s anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own special possession. 
41 He handed them over to pagan nations, and they were ruled by those who hated them. 
42 Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power. 
43 Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. 
44 Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. 
45 He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love. 
46 He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness. 
47 Save us, O LORD our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you. 
48 Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD !

Messages

tarynbarnesLeave a comment

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“When you have an authentic relationship with God, you begin to understand which messages are from Him and which messages are not”~TB

Conviction

When you regularly engage in walking with the Lord, you begin to see the world differently. Consequentially, you begin to discern the thoughts that are your’s, His, and the evil ones. And with this relationship with Christ, you know that your previous deeds are no longer acceptable. This conviction allows you to put aside foolish behaviors as you seek to mirror the life of Christ. No one’s walk will be perfect, but the messages from God will help you get back on track if you choose to listen.

Condemnation

Walking in sin is much more difficult for the born again because you know the price that was paid for you by Jesus. Of course, there will be times when messages of extreme guilt and worthlessness begin to creep into your head. They may cause you to question your standing with God. Friends, these messages are not from God, but rather the evil one. Condemnation is lamenting over deeds that He has already forgiven you for. If God isn’t repeatedly pointing at your past, why are you? Delete those messages as they deter your path with the Lord.

Discernment

As you grow in Christ, you will level up in discernment, filtering which messages are important and which ones are unnecessary. This is why it is so important to read the Bible, to talk with God, and to pick up the Cross daily to cast away your former evil selves. Knowing and practicing the difference helps you avert pitfalls and temptations because you know who you are in Christ. The messages will never go away, but when you truly know the Lord, you can filter through the noise.

Today’s Question

Which messages are you reading, the good or the evil?

Enjoy the reading

Psalm 104

1 Let all that I am praise the LORD . O LORD my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. 
2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; 
3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. 
4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants. 
5 You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved. 
6 You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains. 
7 At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away. 
8 Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed. 
9 Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth. 
10 You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains. 
11They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 
12 The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees. 
13 You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor. 
14 You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth— 
15 wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength. 
16 The trees of the LORD are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 
17There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses. 
18 High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes. 
19 You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. 
20 You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about. 
21 Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God. 
22 At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest. 
23 Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening. 
24 O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. 
25 Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. 
26 See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea. 
27 They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. 
28 When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. 
29 But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. 
30 When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. 
31 May the glory of the LORD continue forever! The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made! 
32 The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch. 
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! 
34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD . 
35 Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the LORD . Praise the LORD !

 

Patrol

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Patrol your own parameter of love in your life and reject any evil or wicked ideas from entering the space of your mind, heart, body, soul, or spirit, because when you die, only Christ can save you.”  ~  Jon Barnes  

Reject

Reject negative thoughts that would consume your time and energy.  Get rid of evil habits that will diminish your character and right standing with God.  Clean up your workspace, home, cars, computers, and stuff so that you can operate more effectively and efficiently.

Temptation

Reject the attraction of stuff, temptation, lust, fame, money, and the ruble wisdom of evil, the bling(s) subtle attractions and charm, like fools gold.  Let Jesus test the authenticity of your findings, actions, motives, and plans for the future.  Don’t bet your life of eternity with God on a horse race, slot machine, card game, or a scam from the devil.

Big Screen

Do not become brainwashed from the movies, TV Shows, media, and other advertisements that are used to negate the Word of God from your lifestyle.  Run your daily diagnostic with Jesus to detect and fix problems that you may not detect on your own.  His Big Screen TV can see it all to help patrol and improve your walk with God.
Stay on patrol and stay away from wicked, evil people.
Today’s Question
Are you using and enjoying the wonderful stories and information from your bible to patrol the parameters of your own heart with Christ or have you lost your mind to satan? 
Enjoy The Reading
 

Psalm 50 

A psalm of Asaph.

1 The Lord, the Mighty One, is God,
    and he has spoken;
he has summoned all humanity
    from where the sun rises to where it sets.
2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines in glorious radiance.
3 Our God approaches,
    and he is not silent.
Fire devours everything in his way,
    and a great storm rages around him.
4 He calls on the heavens above and earth below
    to witness the judgment of his people.
5 “Bring my faithful people to me—
    those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”
6 Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,
    for God himself will be the judge. Interlude
7 “O my people, listen as I speak.
    Here are my charges against you, O Israel:
    I am God, your God!
8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices
    or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns
    or the goats from your pens.
10 For all the animals of the forest are mine,
    and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird on the mountains,
    and all the animals of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for all the world is mine and everything in it.
13 Do I eat the meat of bulls?
    Do I drink the blood of goats?
14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
    and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15 Then call on me when you are in trouble,
    and I will rescue you,
    and you will give me glory.”
16 But God says to the wicked:
“Why bother reciting my decrees
    and pretending to obey my covenant?
17 For you refuse my discipline
    and treat my words like trash.
18 When you see thieves, you approve of them,
    and you spend your time with adulterers.
19 Your mouth is filled with wickedness,
    and your tongue is full of lies.
20 You sit around and slander your brother—
    your own mother’s son.
21 While you did all this, I remained silent,
    and you thought I didn’t care.
But now I will rebuke you,
    listing all my charges against you.
22 Repent, all of you who forget me,
    or I will tear you apart,
    and no one will help you.
23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
    If you keep to my path,
    I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
Love,
 
Jonathan

Suitable

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
arm-1284248_1920.jpgHi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Challenges are positive steps that are out of order for you to organize, rearrange, and find suitable solutions to new questions and answers.” ~  Jon Barnes

Ordered

You are ordered to organize your thoughts by following the commandments of love from your heart, which is given to you by God.  Only God can give you true love that will last and overcome challenges in life.  This love will rearrange your steps into the positive direction designed by God with purpose.  Follow God’s love examples.

Organization

In God’s Universal Organization, He is Lord of all things from the most expansive existence to the smallest things imaginable.  Everything has a step, placement, and value, as nothing is ever wasted, unnoticed, or unaccounted for.  God is clearly in control.  By studying God’s blueprints of organizational and creative patterns, you can find solutions to your problems, purpose to your life, and love to receive, connect, and share with others.

Rearranged

It is Christ who teaches us to rearrange, rewire and repair our wicked hearts to follow Him as a disciple, student, and child of God.  We are all on the playground learning how to get along, share, and care for one another.  In this love, we can see what true Christian look and act like.  Your challenge is how you implement God’s Ways and love into your life to find suitable solutions to new and old questions.
Today’s Question
Do you really want to know and live by God’s Laws, Truth, and Justice or would you rather live in hell now and for eternity?
Enjoy The Reading
 

Psalm 44 

1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears— our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago: 
2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free. 
3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them. 
4 You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. 
5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. 
6 I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. 
7 You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. 
8 O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Interlude
9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle. 
10 You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land. 
11 You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations. 
12 You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale. 
13 You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us. 
14 You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn. 
15 We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces. 
16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies. 
17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant. 
18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path. 
19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death. 
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods, 
21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart. 
22 But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep. 
23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. 
24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression? 
25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt. 
26 Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
Love,
 
Jonathan

Put

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
ecology-2985781_1920 (2)Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Put forth your best effort to help people with good motives and ideas from God so that they can avoid making the same embarrassing mistakes of old.”  ~ Jon Barnes

Our

When our ideas come from the research and studies of God’s perspective, we begin to understand how to approach logic in a civilized manner to master sin and prevent disobedient behavior.  Put your evil thoughts to death daily with Christ.  Trust and obey God, not people. Since the price of death was at the doing of our ancestors, God re-calibrated our path of hope, faith, love and manner of existence to experience and see the big picture in Him.  People cannot show you God’s big picture in your life, because God will show you Himself.

Thoughts

Being connected to God’s Holy Spirit allows us the freedom to flow, learn, understand, and put our cares into His Hands of Righteousness.  We see these choices and base our acts of love from our integrity, motives, and works of faith.  The death of your good thoughts come from evil spirits that you cling to, respect, and follow, whether you know it or not.  Evil comes from disobedient thoughts, ways, and lifestyles that are inconsistent with God’s Ways and Thoughts.  Choose your thoughts carefully and purposefully. 

Last

Your thoughts are not pure or original.  They are either copies of God’s Thoughts or thought of evil, which are the opposite of God’s ideas and plans.  When you put your ideas last, God’s plan is activated in your life to give new and better thoughts and plans for your existence in Him.  When you put yourself last, God will promote and put you first in the line up of wisdom and truth.
Today’s Question
Do your thoughts come from the Seed Sower or did you put your mind in the hands of the wicked seed-eater?
Enjoy The Reading

Esther 6 

Mordecai Honored

6 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles,the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor,8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Love,
 
Jonathan

Search Engine

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Helen Keller and Mother Theresa didn’t use Google to become famous; they overcame difficult situations with good ole’ fashioned hard work and love.” ~ Jon Barnes

Hard

It’s hard not to become lazy with all of this technology and it is important for all of us to maintain a healthy physical work ethic to keep our mind, body, and spirit sharp.  When we look at our history, notice the work ethic of those who achieved, accomplished, and accessed the finer things in life, which was not money, government, or corporate driven.

Drive

Since your heart writes on the hard drive of your mind, try to feed and regulate your thoughts with the good actions and intentions of great people who inspire character, integrity, and honor.  Walk in the ways of wise people who honored God’s commandments and ideas.  Drive these concepts and connect them deep inside your heart, so that your mind doesn’t google or wander all over the place to crazy sites you didn’t choose.

Sites

Guard your mind and eyes against things that are not appropriate for your children to watch.  We become googled eyes from all of the flash, bling, and fling things that cross our path.  I refuse to become exploited by technology, ideology, or psychology that negates the love and lifestyle God has for me and my family.  Keep your sights on Jesus and Biblical readings. I choose not to second guess or make up things, situations, or stories that are not true in God’s sights.
Today’s Question
What are you googling and looking at?
Enjoy The Reading
 

2 Chronicles 6 

Solomon Praises the Lord

6 Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. 2 Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!”
3 Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing: 4 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father, 5 ‘From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. Nor have I chosen a king to lead my people Israel.6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my name to be honored, and I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”
7 Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, 9 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’
10 “And now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord made with the people of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer. 13 Now Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 1⁄2 feet long, 7 1⁄2 feet wide, and 4 1⁄2 feet high[a] and had placed it at the center of the Temple’s outer courtyard. He stood on the platform, and then he knelt in front of the entire community of Israel and lifted his hands toward heaven. 14 He prayed,
“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.15 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.
16 “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 17 Now, O Lord, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.
18 “But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 19 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. 20 May you watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 21 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.
22 “If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar at this Temple, 23 then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Pay back the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.
24 “If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave to them and to their ancestors.
26 “If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.
28 “If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is— 29 and if your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple, 30 then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart. 31 Then they will fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.
32 “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands when they hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, 33 then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.
34 “If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to you by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name, 35 then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.
36 “If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near. 37 But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ 38 If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name— 39 then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 “O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place.
41 “And now arise, O Lord God, and enter your resting place,
    along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation;
    may your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness.
42 O Lord God, do not reject the king you have anointed.
    Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.”
 
Love,
 
Jonathan