God’s Word:
When I heard all this, I sat down and wept. For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, “LORD God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command
My Thoughts:
Nehemiah, although comfortable and content where he was at in the king’s castle, yet he was very concerned, deeply distressed, and wanted desperately for God to relieve the distress that his fellow citizens were encountering – as he heard from brothers who had just returned from Judah. Most important of all, he was not just willing to feel sorry about he fellow citizens, instead he did a lot more – His heart was so impacted by the news he received that he went several days without food, mourning and constantly praying to God out of deep concern for the people that he dearly loved.
Challenge:
Friends, today we have much deeper, and way more personal concerns that are affecting our families, our churches, our cities. When last have we done like Nehemiah? When last have we inquired about the state of our church – the needs, concerns and issues that are impacting the ministry? And your family, when last have you been concerned enough about the physical and spiritual needs of each family member that you ‘cried out’ to Jesus for a divine touch, and healing of the bitterness, pride, selfishness and anger that separate so many families? Just yesterday I heard from two friends about deep wounds within families that have placed a wedge between father and son, and in another case between two brothers. Think about this friends, these are not just acquaintances, or fellow citizens, these are close, blood relatives! Within each of our own personal families we have members who are just like these two cases mentioned. If you don’t, please pray for my family or another friend’s family that you know fit this description. Friends, we will not see God work through these kinds of messes – this kind of selfish ‘SIN’. We must drop down these walls and bare ourselves of these offenses, so that God’s Holy Spirit will have the liberty to work through us to reach other family members who might also be struggling, or perhaps a friend who desperately needs our help and prayers over their family’s separation from God. I am convinced that God will not use us when we have so much to clear up with Him ourselves. He is a holy and righteous God and He will not work through vessels that are burdened with sin and discord. Our family members are dying and going to Hell, while we sit back in our pride and allow Satan to work out his evil plans in our lives. How can we possibly witness to a fellow worker, or friend, when God is not invited to cleanse our own hearts? It just can’t happen friend, they will see straight through your pretense.
Prayer:
Father, through the desperation of my own heart and on behalf of my own family, I ‘cry out’ to you for peace, harmony, love and reconciliation in the lives of family members who are deliberately separated from each other. Lord Jesus, I pray that our families will individually converse with You, and seek Your forgiveness for the sin that separate them from You. I thank You, through the assurance of Your Word, for receiving them back into Your arms as they ask for it. I believe that You will use these sad situations for which Satan has laughed and celebrated victory for so many years, to now witness through these members to others in their family, and in those within their realm of influence, that need a touch from You to also unify and love their families. Lord You are awesome, and all powerful. I know that You can do all things, and I place my trust in You today for Your powerful work in my family this day! For it is in the all powerful, all loving and awesome hands of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that I ask and plead for these things, and look forward to celebrating answered prayer very soon! Amen, and amen!
Nuggets From God's Word 