From my Prayer Journal, January 31, 2026.
Today I awoke after about 4 ½ hours of sleep. On my mind were thoughts of unlikely heroes in Scripture. These were persons moved to repentance, sorrowful over their sin, drawn to Jesus for release from great burden. Even before they got to Jesus, they began to be transformed by his love and power. They had seen it from afar, witnessed it as they saw Jesus minister to others, how he loved, how he cared. They saw kindness in him, goodness, mercy, and peace. Hope was born in them that they could be made whole. And when they were in his presence, their hope was fulfilled.
Here are a few examples. First, the repentant thief. He rebukes the other thief. He acknowledges they deserve their punishments. He says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
A widow dropped her last two coins into the temple treasury. Jesus singled her out saying she had given more than all the others. What motivated her? What sustained her? She longed for God and felt her need for the Savior. Consider her gratitude, humility, and devotion.
Pondering these, I long for a heart like theirs, repentant and sorrowful over my sin of self-righteousness, thinking myself better than others. “Lord, break me of such vanity.”
In a parable, Jesus spoke of a tax collector standing a distance away, striking his chest and crying, “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.”
I cannot explain why I include each of these, except each long for Jesus and exhibit humility.
Two old souls appear at the temple when baby Jesus is presented. Simeon and Anna longed continually to see their Savior before they died. The Holy Spirit drew them; they held him, prayed over him and blessed their Savior.
A Roman Centurion with a sick servant, counted himself unworthy for Jesus to come. He asked, “Just say the word and I know my servant will be healed.”
One leper out of ten healed, a Samaritan, came running back to thank Jesus.
David was convicted by the Holy Spirit when Nathan the prophet spoke the words “You are the man!” Then David mourned and grieved how he had sinned against God.
Rahab, a woman of Jericho, sheltered two Hebrew spies. In her fear of God, she asked the men to spare her life and the lives of her family.
A blind man sitting outside Jericho, called out as Jesus passed by, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” He wouldn’t let up. Four friends carried a paralyzed man to Jesus; when they couldn’t get there, they made a hole in the roof and lowered him to Jesus. A woman believed if she could touch Jesus’ hem she would be healed so she pressed through the crowd and touched him. Instantly Jesus knew power had gone out from him, he stopped and blessed her. On a Sabbath, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand; another Sabbath, he healed a man born blind; and another Sabbath, he healed a man lame for 38 years. Two different women, each with a bottle of perfume, interrupted two different parties to weep at Jesus feet.
“Lord, may my heart be as theirs, caring not what others see and think about me, but may I be immersed in the moment of your ministering to me.”
May I become like one of the countless ones waiting in line to be baptized by John for repentance. “Lord may I be counted among these. May the chains of pride and self-righteousness be broken and fall from me. I cannot do it for myself. Lord may your power, grace and love take hold of me. May I be among your Repentant Tribe?”
Don Hasty