This is the last week of This Is the Old Testament! Next week, we’ll continue our thematic overview of the entire Bible with This Is The New Testament. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book or two of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture.
The Book of Zephaniah: The prophet Zephaniah warned the people of Judah about the consequences of idolatry and urged them to seek the Lord alone before the coming day of judgment. While Zephaniah’s immediate purpose was to warn idolatrous Judah of the Lord’s imminent judgment, the ultimate purpose was to call out a “remnant” from all nations to trust in the Lord
How Zephaniah Fits Into the Story: While Israel continued to turn away from God, the promise of a remnant, or a group of people left after a catastrophe, illustrates God’s amazing grace alongside His just wrath. God judges the proud and preserves the humble, and Zephaniah invited everyone who humbly obeyed the Lord to seek Him for deliverance. The New Testament highlights the beautiful truth that all people are invited to be part of such a remnant—those who receive eternal salvation through faith in Christ.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can you extend the kind of grace God showed His people to someone from your community who may be difficult to love?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
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78 thoughts on "Zephaniah"
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Question 1: How can you extend the kind of grace God showed to His people to someone from your community who may be difficult to love?
– In order to extend the grace of God and to love someone who is difficult to love we have to have a shift of how we see ourselves in our relation to them. Gods grace and love requires us to move away from moral comparison and move toward the shared brokenness of all humanity that bounded us all.
Question 2: How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
– If we’re not apart of the solving then we are apart of the issue. The true wisdom is from above is first of all pure and then peaceable. Getting mad is not the wisest thing to do there is no nee
As i was reading the requests today, and praying for each one as I came to it, I was struck by the comments of our sisters who are also praying. Some were praying as the sun came up, others later in the morning, or I the afternoon and evening. And as a night owl, I’m praying at midnight. Isn’t it great that someone is praying all through the day when any of us reaches out and asks for prayer?
Absolutely Perfect., Teresa!
How are you doing, continued prayers for your wellbeing..❤️
Tina, thank you for asking, and for your prayers! I’m doing well. I love reading your comments every day! ❤️
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Love this thought! Yes!
Praying for you, Sara and all of you ladies today. I have a friend who is going through something somewhere with her sister and her intense horrible struggles with alcohol. It has consumed her mental health. And it is a struggle to want to keep her safe, but also to protect her own family her mental wellbeing. Praying for your brother that he also has a breakthrough.
Joining you if i may, in your prayers, Kimberly. ❤️
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Reflection Questions:
1. How can you extend the kind of grace God showed His people to someone from your community who may be difficult to love? To extend God’s grace and love to someone who is difficult to love requires a shift of how we view ourselves in relation to them. Grace and love requires us moving away from the moral comparison and moving toward the shared brokenness of humanity that bound us all. I wish I remembered this more. We need to remember our “before”, the fixer upper and the work in progress that we are. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray… But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:3-5). I find that it’s very easy to fall into the older brother syndrome, when his broken, wasteful prodigal brother returned and was met with a lavish party, the older brother was furious. He felt his “good behavior” entitled him to more love than the broken person received. He served his father, but his heart was transactional. When dealing with difficult people, that older brother syndrome can creep into our heart quietly, the sign is resentment. Guard our heart with all diligence. We must know God’s grace is not a limited pie. It is inexhaustible and He is the God of abundance. Don’t let scarcity thinking rob us of the grace we ought to extend for others. Someone else receiving mercy, patience, or a blessing takes absolutely nothing away from us. We also need to reject the Pharisees’ prayers, “thank God I am not like them”. The religious elite stood proudly and prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector”. Meanwhile, the broken man couldn’t even look up to heaven, simply crying out for mercy. When we look at a difficult neighbor, family member, coworker, or community member and think, “Well, at least I don’t act like that,” we are committing the exact same error. Guard our thoughts. One thing that I pray we learn is to shift from fixing them, to bearing with them (“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” Colossians 3:13). We honestly can’t fix them, it’s like chasing the wind. We must let God. We can only model and reflect to them who God is by the leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to allow them the room to be imperfect without immediately writing them off. This is hard in practical living, but it’s not impossible for God. May God give us patience and the capacity for long suffering when walking with the difficult ones. I remember Tina’s lovely story which she has shared many times, of the girl who came to receive the meals at church with a challenging attitude, and then became Tina’s best friend (thank you TINA, I cried every time you told a story).
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2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption? If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. I love this quote, it is a cry for accountability. Passive bystanders actually enable prevailing difficulties. There is no neutrality. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. Getting angry is not wise, no need to create more conflicts or crises (Lord forgive me my foolishness when I lose my temper in difficult situations, give me grace for self control, and to bear with one another).
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Be blessed dear sisters.
Mercy, I am so thankful for you and the way you share such deep insights every day. I always feel uplifted reading your comments.
Beautiful, Mercy.. and thank you!❤️
When I think of how undeserving I am to be a part of God‘s remnant, that should fuel my love and grace for those around me. Praise God that he chooses a people for himself and offers a pathway to a relationship with him through the great work of the gospel!
We are that remnant, it seems.
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Sometimes it is so difficult to extend grace and mercy when it seems like people and the world don’t even want it.
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Then I remember the grace and mercy He gives to me every day, and I ponder about how best to show others that they WANT it too!
“He will quiet you with His love.” This verse just jumped out to me! Sometimes when we are in the thick of a situation, we need to just sit with the Lord and His love for us. Then it is easier to give it to the Lord to handle.
I had an associate who I supervised post an untruth about me on social media just because in 2020 someone had come back to work after having Covid. We followed all the guidelines about safety and our HR department approved the person to come back. Apparently someone else didn’t have symptoms but had Covid. All out of my hands, but the associate blamed me for her and several others being infected on social media. I had to sit with God for this one and let Him quiet me! Prayed for the individual and for God to help me show love to them. He made it so easy for me to do it. I am even on good terms even now in my retirement. Occasionally, she will ask for prayer. I remember what happened but have no ill will toward her! Just a testimony of how God can heal our heart.
Praying for all!
Thank you for sharing this powerful story. You were so right about this “I had to sit with God for this one and let Him quiet me!”
Thank you for sharing how God worked in you to show true forgiveness.
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1. How can I extend the kind of grace God showed me to someone in my community who may be difficult to love? Love them anyway or as Bob Goff says (a book he wrote) “Everybody Always”
2. My God’s redemptive story is just that! He loves me always! He takes delight in me! He restores me! Isaiah 30:19…. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
God is SO good!
Happy Tuesday on this “cool” morning. Getting a break from the heat BEFORE the big wave of “heat” coming soon. I love summer! I love the heat!
Asking for prayer for my son Caleb who has a background interview this morning for a job he applied for a couple of months ago. Its a LONG process! He’s been unemployed since January 1st.
Praying for Caleb and this long interview process.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can you extend the kind of grace God showed His people to someone from your community who may be difficult to love? Be understanding but firm, be compassionate but give that person options if possible to move forward. Compromise but hold boundaries.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Our God is just and holy and He just wants us to follow in His footsteps as much as we can.
God wants everyone saved
Amen!
Continuing to pray.
God will definitely give you the words to speak.
GM. I have to constantly remind myself in the judging that I too, was once there when lost. I think it’s harder for me with “Christians” because they do have the Spirit so therefore we are to “judge by their fruit.” And when you see them continue to live in sin, and not be convicted it is hard not to want to “sharpen them” in a harsh way but with gentleness. We are told to be good brothers and sisters to call it out so they will be convicted.
But we are all on our own road. Lord knows I claimed Christ on one hand, knowing Jesus is our Savior, while I was drinking, thieving, gambling, lying and cheating for decades. I was not representing how a Christian should live. I am so glad for the times when there were people that had the hard talk with me. For we will be judge for what we did with what we know. We can’t know Jesus, and do nothing. It should consume us in such gratitude and eagerness to know the urgency to save a lost world, those in our placement. See miracles as we serve constantly reaffirms our faith. Talking with people how God saved us and changed our lives is the testimony that gives credibility.
And now, in heartache and trauma, tragedy. He is with me and holding me strong. Holding my sister strong. (I loved yesterday’s Isaiah verse, a balm to many!)
We are set apart, we are sanctified. God wants to use us in such a powerful way, even when we don’t see our value in that way. But his purposes can be brought about when we humble ourselves and do his work! Oh Lord..Help me. Download into me what I should say and how to say it. I will still write it out, and probably stare at it straight…But God, bring your usual zeal and confidence, through the Spirit! It amazes me..so I am letting go and letting you go…! Overflow out of me Lord.
Praying for your sister, you, and family!
WE love you our sweet Rhonda J!
I miss your reflection and daily share. So glad to see you back sister ❤️ Continued prayers over your family as you prepare for Friday. May the Lord turn what was meant for evil for good. Hugs.
Continuing to pray.
God will definitely give you the words to speak. Listen for His still, small voice.
Only through submitting to the Spirit can I extend the kind of grace God showed His people to the one in my community who is difficult to love!
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Today’s reading showed me once again that there is nothing I can do on my own to be pleasing to God. My redemption is totally an act of His mercy and grace. He does it all.
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Praying for your requests
I agree with you Kelly; the only way to extend love and kindness to others is by submitting to the power of the Holy Spirit. It was also by his Spirit that God opened my eyes to Him; without him we can do nothing, but with him everything is possible.
Q1 – My first thought: I am most difficult to love, yet God out of His love and kindness extended to me His amazing Grace!
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For years now, every Tuesday morning I shop at the same grocery store and for many years would get there when it opened at 7:00 a.m. I remember years ago being the first one in the store and went straight to the deli counter. The man who waited on me was very grumpy and commented that I shouldn’t be in the store yet. I replied, “the doors were open, so I think I can be in here.” He was not happy and very angrily sliced my cold cuts…which made me angry! I went straight to the customer service desk and “reported” him…but of course, God wouldn’t leave it there! For the rest of the day I felt so convicted about how I reacted, God wouldn’t let me forget it and the Holy Spirit continued to convict me and I prayed for him all week. The next week when I went shopping I brought him a home-baked treat – from that time on the man was as nice as could be!
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How can you extend the kind of grace God showed His people – pray for them AND – bake them a sweet treat!
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Forever thankful for the kind grace God has extended to me. I am justified freely, yet it cost Jesus everything when He shed His blood for you and me.
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He demonstrates His righteousness
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He is just
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He is the One who justifies
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He delights in us
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He rejoices over us with singing
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He is the giver and restorer of life
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Happy Tuesday She’s – praying for all your requests.
@Rhonda – continuing to lift you and your family up in prayer. Praying God will give you the strength and words for Savannah’s service.❤️
I love that. We take brownies to jail once a month and now they love us as well! We bring to the front desk (not many happy greeting smiles before..) and to the Chaplin’s office, and to the guards of our pod!
Showing love to ones that don’t “deserve” love by their actions is one of the funniest ways to be Jesus’ hands and feet! Most people are the way they are for multiple reasons. They may have lots going on that no one knows, hurting usually. I try to remember everyone has a story, and I love to try to engage with people and find some of it!
When we go to jail it can be really hard to show love to those that have done bad stuff. We are in the pod that is the worst of crimes. But God gives me Mercy and Grace, and it amazes me of how that works.
thank you for the prayers..
So beautiful ❤️
The location of our church has unhoused and those living rough on our doorstep regularly. We support them through emergency care packages, a weekly lunch and try to help in any way meet an immediate need or direct them to social agencies that have greater resources than we do. It can be really challenging at times because in order for their lives to improve, they have to make a change and sadly, many don’t want to. Many of our community members are regulars and we dont see moving forward happening so that can be a hard to love situation. A couple weeks ago one of the men that we regularly support and provide for stole one of our pastors wallet. We were all so shocked. He was tracked down, wallet and contents returned but cash gone with no offer to replace it. Feels pretty hard to extend grace. And yet, we were reminded, the Lord offers grace and this man needs Jesus. we have put boundaries in place for him, but pray that over the 3-4 years he has sat at our community table that the welcoming care, support and seeds planted will find good soil and he will find Jesus.
Thank you Lord, that you have made a way and desire for us all to be in restored, renewed and in relationship with you. Thank you that you so deeply love us; that your grace and mercy is for us; that you are among us, delight in us, and rejoice in us. Help us Father to look to you to make all things new in our lives and thank you that salvation is ours. Amen
I worked in alternative learning for a couple of years with kids that were expelled from regular school. We saw a lot of kids who hit what we called “a wall” and could not get beyond because no one in their family or circle of friends had ever gone beyond. To go beyond they had to change their support system and environment and that is a hard thing to do. You almost have to take them out of their environment. I wished so badly that I could have converted our barn into a dorm and taken everyone of those kids home.
Wendy b, I’m praying now that one day that thief in your midst become the theif on the cross next to Jesus that received forgiveness and salvation through Our Lord. It will be a great witness when he stands up and tells his saving grace story.
What a story. Thank you Wendy for sharing. Redemption is messy. Praying for that thief and the change of heart, and also for healing over the pastor and the serving church. Kudos to the programs and outreach actions of you and your church Wendy.
Amen
Lord, help me to extend the same grace you extend to me..
Megan, I have been there with family and it is all consuming. I pray now and ask for His will to be seen, felt and understood. To be a season of growth and to become a path that is led into deep connection and dependence on Him.
As far as reflection questions; my youngest brother repeatedly pops into my thoughts this summer as we read through God’s redeeming story in the Old Testament. He is a prisoner of methamphetamines, alcohol and is quickly loosing his mental health. I feel a deep desire to protect my family (I have children) from his sometimes erratic behavior, but buckle as I read his letters from jail. He begs for forgiveness and offers promises of change when he re-enters our society. Please pray that I will diligently pray for my brother and that our great and mighty Savior will crash into him and save Allen’s life, heart, mind and soul! Please pray for my understanding and part of God’s plan for redemption in his life. It is not easy to know what stance to make when dealing with a loved one who has been taken over by such a powerful drug.
I am so sorry to hear of your brother’s addictions. I will pray that God breaks the chains that bind Allen to these awful substances and that he might find the peace and joy of Christ while he is in prison. God can do a mighty work in his heart. May God give you wisdom and understanding of what His will is for you in all of this. And may today’s reading give you hope in how God can restore. ❤️
Praying for you and your family, Sarah!
It is a horrible cycle, the drugs alter the mind so much. The pull is hard to resist in their own strength. And then, since it has happened so often and they are usually stripped of everything, they are set up for failure. I have learned so much about this through books, jail service and walking with them after release, and through my family situation now. I saw my niece’s struggle of wanting to get off so bad..but every detox was horrible for her, she couldn’t restrain or overcome the withdrawals.
We tell the girls that are in jail for long periods that they have done the hardest part…but then they will need so much help when they get out, a community of help. We have to provide that and tell them that Jesus is the Deliverer, the Redemption, the Freedom, the Restorer. But families also have to protect their family from the chaos and hurt. Praying for you Sarah and your brother.
Sarah, I will be praying for Allen and asking God to help set him free from his addictions and to fill him with God’s restoring love and peace. Also praying for you that the Holy Spirit would direct your prayers and your actions. I’m so sorry your family is going through this.
Praying for discernment for you, Sarah, that the Lord will lead you to where you need to be in this situation. Also prayers for Allen, that he will be able to maintain sobriety and keep his connection to God
Sarah praying for you, your brother and family. I encourage you to find a nar anon group that can help you. It is important to be there for your brother but to also set boundaries and keep them even if you have to remind him, yourself and other loved ones repeatedly. Addiction is such a terrible life altering process for the one addicted and those that love them.
Sarah, praying for discernment and for your brother. For wisdom while showing grace but setting safe boundaries.
Praying Sarah for your decision, your strength, and wisdom for the necessary boundaries to protect your children as you decide the amount of access he can have when re-entering. Praying for him that he can be released/ set free from the bondage of addiction that destroys many lives and breaks family’s hearts. I am so sorry.
These verses caught me off guard from the beginning, as soon as I read the word ‘restore’ in the first verse, the tears were there.
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Z 3:9 “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,
That they all may call on the name of the Lord,
To serve Him with one accord.
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12 I will leave in your midst
A meek and humble people,
And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
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17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
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Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
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BG verse Ps 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
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MERCY ❤️ thought provoking comment yesterday! praying for ongoing situation and for relief of pain in your heel
TERESA COOPER DONLEY ❤️ I am so sorry for your loss, and thank you so much for your very moving testimony, and for your comment to Mercy
CEE GEE ❤️
ADRIANNE ❤️
RHONDA J ❤️ continuing to pray, sister, for comfort for the family, and the Lord’s strength in the process of beginning healing from this pain. Praying the Lord will fill you with words to honor and memorialize Savannah’s life, that the Holy Spirit will fill you with the words to share each person’s need for Jesus in a loving and compelling way, that no one would leave unchanged. Much love ❤️
Praying for requests
17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
For several years we closed our Sunday worship with that verse. It is so comforting.
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” ❤️ this verse gives me chills every time. It is a still small voice of GOD that we can easily miss. Thank you for bringing up this verse sister. Praying along with you.
❤️❤️❤️ Praying
My cassie story comes to mind in answer to Q1!
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Extending the kind of grace God showed His people, ie Me. I think, I almost forgot where I had come from and how I had been saved and been given another chance at life. I had totally forgotten the days of old, the days before God opened my eyes, my heart, my soul.
I had forgotten the mercy shown to me in the compassionate, just love of the Father GOD. The favours He bestowed on me, and the answers He gave in response to my cries..
I had forgotten that kindness to me, as I judged this lost soul in need of exactly what I had received from GOD.
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BUT GOD..
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He urged me to show love and kindness to Cassie, to show her that she is seen and that she matters. A hard one, for one restored with judgemental issues, and yet, with His guidance and persistent pushing, I understood the task. I understood that when you have received you cannot keep it to yourself, it is to be shared, for when it is, the world looks a lot different to the recipient..
And if I may say.. also to the giver!
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We do not lose anything by showing the grace GOD shows us, rather, we gain each time we do.We draw closer to GOD!
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HE will rejoice over you with gladness, HE will be quiet in HIS love, HE will delight in you with singing..
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What a picture, for obiedience.. for doing what is right..
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Praise GOD.
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AMEN.
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Happy Tuesday my dears.. praying for all requests and others,
love you muchly..xx❤️
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Thanks for sharing, Tina! Great as always!
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My goodness, I was referencing your story, but i didn’t have time to read your comment till now. Is Cassie the one saying you’re her best friend?
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Ladies,
I’ve been part of these studies for a long time.
Almost exactly 10 years ago I asked for your prayers at an extremely dark time. God delivered in a mighty way and my husband and I will forever remember our miraculous deliverance. I am indebted to you, dear sisters for lifting us up.
I come to you now to ask again for help from you mighty prayer warriors. My sister’s husband was laid off in January and despite his tireless efforts, he has not found a new job. His unemployment is soon to expire and they cannot live on my sister’s salary alone. If any of you have gone through a similar season, you know it is a torturous kind of anxiety.
I ask you to please pray that God would work in a mighty way for her and her husband just like He did for me 10 years ago.
Appreciate you all so much and you are in my prayers
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Praying Megan for your sister and brother-in-law’s situation to change.. that the right job will come and that God will be glorified.. My continued prayer would be that they continue to look to God and trust Him in all circumstances.. He is always working, even when we can not see or realise it.. i pray they hold on to the hope of the One who has plans never to harm but to prosper..He is good, always. Amen.
Praying Megan!
Joining my sisters, Megan, in praying for your brother in law, for the Lord to guide him to the right job opening for this time in their lives. Praying, Lord, that he will see Your hand guiding him today. We thank You for Your provision for and protection of this family.
This is a difficult situation. I will be praying for your brother in law to soon find work, and pray that he will trust that God in His appointed time will open up that door.
Praying for a miracle
Praying for him in the name of Jesus ❤️❤️❤️
Praying for your sister and brother in law, that God will work in their situation and that he will be blessed with employment
Praying for your brother in law and his family.
Praying for your sister and brother-in-law. God’s provision!
Praying for your BIL. Do I remember those years back in the 80’s when my husband was laid off due to an economic slowdown. His employer threatened them not to draw unemployment. I was working part time. We kind of reversed roles, he stayed home and I got another part time job as an adjunct professor at a community college. At the end of the month, if there was any money left over, we took the kids to McDonald’s. It was a difficult but sweet time relying on God.
Praying for your sister and brother-in-law. ❤️
Praying alongside dear Megan.
Praying for your sister’s husband to be led to the job God has planned for him. And for God’s provision in the waiting.