Scripture

Thus says the Lord to this people: “Thus they have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet. Therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will remember their iniquity now, and punish their sins.” Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good...”
(Jeremiah 14:10-11)

Devotional

The Lord does not accept willful and rebellious sin. Therefore neither should we. Yes we are to, “pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”(1) We are to seek God’s mercy and be merciful ourselves. Nevertheless, we are not to pray for their good. When friends wander from the right path, we cannot pray for their way. We can and should pray that they be restrained from the error of their ways, but not for them to prosper. Here is what I have clearly found: When a deceived believer is choosing the wrong path, he or she will foolishly seek reasons to justify that path. The decision will be made first, then the reasons for the decision will be foolishly fabricated. It will be a shallow decision without a biblical foundation. A favorite reason for their foolish choice is more than often, “God put it on my heart.” They fail to heed Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things...”

(1) Matthew 5:43

Text For The Day

Jeremiah 14:10, 11: Thus says the Lord to this people: “Thus they have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet. Therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will remember their iniquity now, and punish their sins.” Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good.”

Thought For The Day

At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankee second baseman, offered a prayer that is a classic in brevity and poignancy: “Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.”

Questions To Ponder

For what or whom are we not to pray?
If we are not to pray for someone or something, then how are we to pray in those situations?
Have you been praying for something for which you should not be?

Morning Study Guide

Defining: “Intercessory prayer” is simply praying for the welfare and blessing of another for the glory of God and the edification of the one for whom you are praying.

Referencing: “I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority,” 1 Timothy 2:1.

Applying: Seek the will and way of God on behalf of those for whom you are praying. Be careful that you are not agreeing with them for their demise.