There you will look for the LORD your God, and if you search for him with all your heart, you will find him.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Never forget these commands that I am giving you today.

But the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do whatever you like, but please, save us today."

So they got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel's distress.

Samuel said to the people of Israel, "If you are going to turn to the LORD with all your hearts, you must get rid of all the foreign gods and the images of the goddess Astarte. Dedicate yourselves completely to the LORD and worship only him, and he will rescue you from the power of the Philistines."

So the Israelites got rid of their idols of Baal and Astarte, and worshiped only the LORD.

But then if you turn back to me and do what I have commanded you, I will bring you back to the place where I have chosen to be worshiped, even though you are scattered to the ends of the earth.'

Happy are those who follow his commands, who obey him with all their heart.

With all my heart I try to serve you; keep me from disobeying your commandments.

With all my heart I call to you; answer me, LORD, and I will obey your commands!

Pay close attention, son, and let my life be your example.

Turn to the LORD and pray to him, now that he is near.

Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the LORD, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive.

And after all this, Judah, Israel's unfaithful sister, only pretended to return to me; she was not sincere. I, the LORD, have spoken."

I will give them the desire to know that I am the LORD. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God, because they will return to me with all their heart.

Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you.

Yes, I say, you will find me, and I will restore you to your land. I will gather you from every country and from every place to which I have scattered you, and I will bring you back to the land from which I had sent you away into exile. I, the LORD, have spoken.'

giving us all the punishment described in the Law of Moses. But even now, O LORD our God, we have not tried to please you by turning from our sins or by following your truth.

Return to the LORD your God, people of Israel. Your sin has made you stumble and fall.

Return to the LORD, and let this prayer be your offering to him: "Forgive all our sins and accept our prayer, and we will praise you as we have promised.

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For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.

Watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray.

Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people when they face this place and pray. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us.

When Daniel learned that the order had been signed, he went home. In an upstairs room of his house there were windows that faced toward Jerusalem. There, just as he had always done, he knelt down at the open windows and prayed to God three times a day.