Pray this Lazaroo in the fear of God: 

“He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.”
(2 Kings 2:24)

Okay, Jesus…

What’s my takeaway from that?

Well…I’m not sure you want me going around calling down curses.

I’m no Elisha.

But if that’s what can happen to those who make fun of Your prophets

I think I’ll keep my mouth shut.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalms 109:17; Hosea 6:5; Matthew 23:37; Acts 21:10-14; Romans 13:7; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 14:32

 Pray this Lazaroo from the depths of your soul: 

“I will continue with all of you…”
(Philippians 1:25)

Quite a statement, Jesus.

Paul knew he would continue with all of them.

I don’t.

You haven’t given me that assurance.

You might call me somewhere else.
You might call them somewhere else.

Satan may tempt them to leave me.
May I never succumb to Satan’s temptation to leave them!

The rest of it is…

continue for how long?

Paul’s remaining time with them was pretty short.

But short or long

enable me to make my time with them count.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalms 39:4-5; Matthew 26:56; Acts 15:38; 2 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:16; 1 John 2:19

 Pray this Lazaroo in absolute sincerity of heart: 

“…it has come to him from the LORD.”
(1 Kings 2:15)

Adonijah just about choked on those words, Jesus

true though they were.

He was older than Solomon. Desperately desired to be king

but his father David chose Solomon.

How do I respond when You give someone else what I desired?

Not like Adonijah, I hope – who with these insincere words
was now trying to overthrow his brother.

May I celebrate from the depths of my heart what You have given to others

and with keen anticipation
pursue what You are saving for me.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalms 16:5-6; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 18:36; Psalms 42:5; Psalms 119:32; Proverbs 4:18; 1 Corinthians 11:23

 Pray this Lazaroo while shaking your head in gratitude: 

“But because of his great love for us…”
(Ephesians 2:4)

That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it, Jesus?

Because of Your great love for me…

You created me, breathed the breath of life in me.
You stay with me every step of the way – good days and bad.

You correct me when I need it.

You protect me from countless attacks without my knowing it.
You repeatedly forgive me even though I keep blowing it.

You bless me over and over
and over and over and over
and over and over again!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Numbers 6:24-26; Psalms 94:14; Romans 8:39; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:16

 Pray this Lazaroo while shaking your head in gratitude: 

“But because of his great love for us…”
(Ephesians 2:4)

That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it, Jesus?

Because of Your great love for me…

You created me, breathed the breath of life in me.
You stay with me every step of the way – good days and bad.

You correct me when I need it.

You protect me from countless attacks without my knowing it.
You repeatedly forgive me even though I keep blowing it.

You bless me over and over
and over and over and over
and over and over again!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Numbers 6:24-26; Psalms 94:14; Romans 8:39; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:16

 Pray this Lazaroo with catalytic dedication: 

“Now then, be strong and brave…”
(2 Samuel 2:7)

Actually, it’s not that tough to be strong and brave, Jesus…

when I’m bigger, smarter, more experienced than my opponent
in the daylight, sun shining, everyone cheering
army at my back

It’s a little tougher to be strong and brave…

when my opponents outnumber me a thousand to one
at night, no moon, everyone jeering
army on the other side

No problem. Great reminder:

Not my battle.
You time.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Leviticus 26:8; Psalms 27:1-3; Psalms 91:7; Philippians 4:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3; 2 Timothy 4:16-17; James 5:16

 Pray this Lazaroo in honest self-appraisal: 

“On the contrary…”
(Galatians 2:7)

It takes courage to do what Paul did, Jesus:

take a position contrary to those around him.

We all want to be liked.

Those who say they don’t
are usually those who tried to be liked and failed.

“I don’t care if I’m liked or not”
is their fallback position.

Help me, Father

to want to be liked by You
more than the rest of the world.

But teach me

how to courageously stand with You for the contrary
without becoming a contrarian.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalms 142:4; Jeremiah 1:18; Romans 11:2-5; Galatians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 4:16-17; Titus 3:10

 Pray this Lazaroo with burning zeal: 

“…those who stumbled are armed with strength.”
(1 Samuel 2:4)

I almost missed this one, Jesus.

You didn’t say, “those who stumbled are strong…”
You said stumblers are, “armed with strength.”

That’s what stumbling does for me, doesn’t it?

It arms me.

Satan wants this sin to harm me.

Initially, it does.

But then comes the point when I get to choose:

Harmed…or armed?

God help me remember the harm my sins have caused me and others

and thus armed
resolve never to commit them again.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalms 119:67; Proverbs 24:16; Zechariah 3:2; Matthew 26:75; Matthew 27:3-5; Luke 22:31-32; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 Pray this Lazaroo in sobered obedience: 

“…if I grieve you…”
(2 Corinthians 2:2)

I don’t like grieving people, Jesus.

First of all because it hurts them.
Secondly, because they don’t much like me when I do.

So I try not to grieve anybody

and fail.

I’ve accidentally grieved more people than I can count.

But there have been times when I knew what I was about to say or do would grieve someone

and I did it anyway –
because if I truly loved them

I had to.

Thank You for those through my life You’ve sent

to lovingly grieve me.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
2 Samuel 12:1-13; Proverbs 27:6; Ezekiel 9:4; Amos 6:6; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Galatians 6:1; James 4:9

 Pray this Lazaroo in deep reverence: 

“So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters.”
(Ruth 2:3)

I’ll take that, Jesus.

If You’ve called me to be a gleaner instead of a harvester
that’s fine with me.

The leftovers in Your field are precious.

Those ignored by others
scorned as not good enough
sold short, left behind

are worthy of my wholehearted love, care and devotion.

They, too are created in Your image.
They, too have unlimited potential

if only someone will help them see.

Who better to serve them?

than one who has also been gleaned.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Leviticus 19:9-10; Judges 8:2; Zechariah 4:10; Matthew 23:12; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; James 2:1-13; 1 Peter 5:6