“A man of God came from Judah by God’s command to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing at the altar burning incense. By the LORD’s word, the man of God cried out …

“When the king heard the word of the man of God and how he cried out … Jeroboam stretched his hand from the altar and said, ‘Seize him!’ But the hand that Jeroboam stretched out against the man of God grew stiff. Jeroboam wasn’t able to bend it back to himself. … The king said to the man of God, ‘Plead before the LORD your God and pray for me so that I can bend my hand back again.’ So the man of God pleaded before the LORD, and the king’s hand returned to normal and was like it used to be. The king spoke to the man of God: ‘Come with me to the palace and refresh yourself. Let me give you a gift.’

“Even after this happened, Jeroboam didn’t change his evil ways. Instead, he continued …” (1 Kings 13.1-2,4,6-7,33 CEB)

God,

Tonight I come to you with my stubbornness in mind.

How many times have I said to you, “If only I could see this or that would happen, I would truly change?” Any how many times have I seen this or that … and then not changed. I’ve lost count; you alone know.

How often have I intended to do better by you, only to see my good intentions become true actions only for a fleeting moment? You alone know; I’ve lost count.

How frequently have I asked others to pray for me and then, did nothing on my part to help their prayers be answered? I’ve lost count; you alone know.

And so I dare to ask one thing of you, LORD. Be more stubborn than me; stubborn in the way you do not give up on me and seek to change me.

Amen.