2 Kings 11

 But Jehosheba ... took Joash .... She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.  He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Lord, on this post-election day, I thank You and praise You that our change of leadership is not like the histories I have read in Kings.  Thank You for the peace and orderliness of the elections.  May I be like Aunt Jehosheba, brave, loving, determined, taking the opportunities You provide me to snatch others from the path of destruction and hatred, lead them to You and help them to be hidden in Your sacred presence - even though the enemy still rules the land, the air and the darkness.  No life is insignificant, You desire all to be saved, and You remember mercy.  May my life bring You glory as I live as a reflection of Your priorities, may I operate with the spiritual discernment and power to accomplish the feats You have assigned to me, and may I trust all the more when it is scary and the the resolution takes a long time to appear.  Life or death.  That's really what's at stake.  Thank You.

2 Kings 10

Now the royal princes, seventy of them, were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them. When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them. …. They (Jehu’s contingent) demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.
Again, today, may I count willingly, intentionally and graciously, everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of You, knowing You and serving You. I know this is a physical scenario which addresses the spiritual; but I don’t want to be a wimp and chicken out of doing the hard or even impossible for me (according to the way You have made me) things You call me to perform. Lord, where a spiritual thing needs to go, something which is reminiscent of ungodliness, an heir to rebellion or a scion of sin, please help me to know that and to annihilate my ties to it or, if appropriate, to utterly destroy it. Allow me to trust the spiritual senses You have given and empowered in me to slaughter anything which You call me to vanquish and vaporize lest I miss Your purpose for my life because I wrongly believe I am not strong enough to obey. Grant me eyes to see what idols I keep close, keep on and keep track of. May they and their influence be demolished by Your power and Spirit that I may be more fully and completely devoted to You. And, Holy Spirit, when I have done the big things, the challenging things, the eradicating things, please help me to continue to walk in obedience to You. Please keep me from slipping into mediocre, comfortable, lazy, convenient, self-centered service to You. You Alone. No other…especially not me. I do not want it said of me that I was not careful with all of my heart to pursue, obey and honor You.

2 Kings 9

When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?” ... Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’”  They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”

Lord God, they called Your man a maniac and then believed exactly what You said through him.  I am not sure how to pray about the name-calling ... but you do call Your people to be distinctive and different from the world, so may I also live a life which fosters that same reputation - uniquely Yours and faithful to Your commands, known to be true to You and not swayed by man's verdicts,   obedient and well-used by You.  I know it made no difference to the verity of the situation; but how they responded to the words displayed their belief.  The name-calling was rebooted by their reaction.  Your Word weighs that much, no matter how or from whom it is delivered.  Father, help me to treat Your Word with deliberate reverence, to believe with cloak-spreading conviction and words to match and to walk in the authority You provide me through Your grace and adoption.  You created the heavens and the earth, You set up kings and You depose them, You are God in Heaven and here am I on earth:   Let my words be few - that Your Words may echo, thundering throughout this dusty timeline and into eternity demonstrating Your majesty, Your omniscience, Your omnipotence, Your love and Your ever-loving, everlasting, ever-wondrous Name. 

2 Kings 8

Lord, I see favor in the form of a warning given to a woman who serves Your prophet, I see answers without warning given to kings.  I see tears over what is coming and a trusted counselor committing murder.  I see a traitor who doesn't kill the one who knows his plan.  I see complicated kings, kingdoms and relatives.    Battles, wounds, elaborate gifts and abundant restoration.  But in the midst of all of these various circumstances I see You, nevertheless, for the sake of Your servant David,  not willing to destroy Judah because You promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.  You are faithful, promise-keeping, steadfast and true to Your Word.  With all the treacherousness and betrayals, famines and rebellions, commoners without names and too many named kings, You are the ever-steady thread, the cord of constancy who never changes or hedges on Your Word.  I praise You for Your faithfulness and great is Your faithfulness, Lord unto everyone and unto me.  Thank You Father for Your amazing, gracious, immutability.  Worthy, You are!

2 Kings 7

Oh Warrior God, what a tremendous story of victory and provision without bloodshed. I lift those who struggle with oppressive thoughts and dire circumstances and ask that You would send the evidence of Your spiritual might and victory to their minds and souls that those parasitical imaginations would disappear in the darkness, even as the Arameans did the night of their despoiling. God, teach me the spiritual warcraft of plundering the enemy in absentia in Your Name for the praise of Your Name. Also, I can see the officer who questioned the promise may not have thought his inquiry offensive; but Lord, don’t let me follow his example. Oh, may I receive and believe the wholeness of Your words and promises. Holy Spirit, help me to respond in faith and not even pick at a hangnail of doubt. You are Lord over all, the physical, the spiritual, the eternal and every other realm about which I can’t imagine…I trust You. I trust YOU. You are True.

2 Kings 6

Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”
Please help me to always be graciously inviting others, even those in ministry. Let me know make assumptions about anyone’s attendance to Your work, Your gatherings or Your opportunities. 

Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel.
Father, this is the king who allowed Naaman to go with treasure for healing from You. Naaman was healed, his life and heart were changed – his worship was transformed. He knew it before he left. Somehow, this co-worker-king of his didn’t respond to You and receive his own provision. Help me to be more faithful, more honest and more of a poster girl for You. I don’t want my co-workers, relatives and neighbors to continue to be deceived. Also, I see a connection for the peace of Israel to be promoted, so please help Your Bride to impact the world in this way that peace, Your peace may come to Israel in our lifetime.

And I praise You that You concern yourself with axeheads and car-keys while You maintain Your glory throughout the universe. Thank You!

2 Kings 5

So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

Holy Spirit, help me to remember that what You offer has no price, may I authentically bear witness of that truth in my life.  You alone heal, You alone. May I be Your conduit for healing in this dusty life - that others may know and see You as the Healer and the One Who Can't be Bought.

 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

Lord God, as I seek what You have for me in life, may I not whine and resist that which and whom You bring to me.  May I recognize holy interruptions, divine opportunities and sacred appointments in what seems to be smelly people, prickly situations and tough circumstances.  May I always be mindful and believing actively that this life is not about what I see and smell, touch and dread, feel and fear; but You, Your glory and Your Kingdom purpose.  You died for people.  For eternity sake.  Let that shake the selfish out of my schedule, priorities and plans.