Tag Archives: Nehemiah

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The God to Whom We Pray

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Nehemiah 1:1-11

Nehemiah demonstrates power in prayer. As a servant to King Artaxerxes of Persia, he had no right to request leave to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, much less to requisition materials and protection. Yet knowing the nature of the God he served, Nehemiah did not hesitate to act boldly and ask the king for what was needed.

His prayer began, “I beseech You, O lord God of heaven” (Neh. 1:5). Lord, when it appears in all capital letters, denotes the word Jehovah (a form of Yahweh, the Hebrew name for God). It means “God who is eternal in His being”—conveying that everything everywhere is in His presence. So, when God makes a promise, He knows how He will keep it. That is why Nehemiah called Him “the awesome God who preserves the covenant.” He knew God was committed to bringing repentant Israelites back to their homeland to dwell in His presence (Neh. 1:9).

Another Hebrew name used to refer to God, Elohim, is translated “He who is absolutely sovereign.” If He spoke the world into being, then He is certainly more than able to provide Nehemiah with supplies, some time off from work, and favor from the Persian king.

There are many other names for God, such as Adonai (“master”), Jehovah-Jireh (“provider”), and Jehovah-Rapha (“healer”). Since the Hebrew language is precise, it can help us to better know who He is—when we need solace, we call upon the God of comfort; in our confusion, we have the God who teaches. Just as knowing one’s audience affects which words we choose to speak, the way we view God impacts how we pray.

Bible in One Year: Hosea 6-9

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How to Listen to God’s Word

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Nehemiah 8

How is it that two people can sit in the same pew, hear the same sermon about the same portion of Scripture, and walk away with two different reactions? One is joyful and the other is unaffected. I think the reason is that some people do not know how to listen to the Word of God.

Nehemiah 8 is an amazing scene of God’s people coming together to hear His Word. Remember that they didn’t have individual copies of Scripture to read. For generations, the events of Genesis through Deuteronomy were passed down from parent to child. Moreover, the people had been in captivity for many years. This was the first time most of them heard the Word read. Imagine their excitement as they listened attentively for the Lord to speak to them.

The Israelites were hungry for God’s Word. Are you? Do you listen eagerly and with an expectant mind and heart? The length of a person’s attention span is directly related to the intensity of his hunger for something. If you crave to know more of God, then your mind is going to be fastened on what He’s saying through your pastor or your personal reading. And the reality is that nothing in the world matters as much as what the Lord has to say.

So many things clamor for our focus but few truly deserve it. The Lord is worthy of nothing less than our undivided attention. He has something to say to every person. So whoever listens to God’s Word with an open heart and alert mind will receive from Him.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Moving Hearts

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Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.—Nehemiah 2:4

Did you know the Lord can move the heart of a king? Or a prime minister? Or a president? The Bible says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1).

The Bible tells the story of Nehemiah, who was cupbearer to the king of Persia. A cupbearer tasted all of the king’s food in case someone was trying to poison him. But in reality, Nehemiah was more than that. Being in such close proximity to the king, the cupbearer would end up being a counselor to the king. So the position of cupbearer became one of great influence. And someone in that situation wouldn’t have wanted to do anything to jeopardize it.

Nehemiah, however, was a Jew. He had heard about how the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins, and his heart went out to his fellow Jews. He thought that perhaps God had put him where he was to do something good for his people. Yet to approach the king and incur his disfavor could cost him his life.

As Nehemiah pondered all this, it made him sad. The king noticed this one day and asked Nehemiah why he was depressed, so Nehemiah explained what was bothering him. Then the king said, “What do you request?”

I love what happened next: “So I [Nehemiah] prayed to the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 2:4). No doubt it was one of those prayers on the fly, the kind you pray when you’re suddenly summoned to the boss’s or principal’s office. Nehemiah prayed, and the Lord moved the king’s heart.

We need to pray for those who are in authority over us. Pray that God would help them make the right decisions and guide and lead their steps.

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – A Place To Be

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Read: Nehemiah 1:4-11
Bible in a Year: Joshua 1-3; Mark 16

 

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. —John 14:2

A thousand strands of time, events, and people weave into a tapestry we call place. More than just a house, place is where meaning, belonging, and safety come together under the covering of our best efforts at unconditional love. Place beckons us with memories buried deep in our souls. Even when our place isn’t perfect, its hold on us is dramatic, magnetic.

The Bible speaks frequently of place. We see an example in Nehemiah’s longing for a restored Jerusalem (Neh. 1:3-4; 2:2). It’s no surprise, then, that Jesus would speak of place when He wants to comfort us. “Let not your heart be troubled,” He began. Then He added: “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2).

For those who have fond memories of earthly places, this promise links us to something we can easily understand and look forward to. And for those whose places have been anything but comforting and safe, Jesus promises that one day they will hear the sweet song place sings, for they will inhabit it with Him.

Whatever the struggle, whatever the faltering on your faith journey, remember this: There’s a place in heaven already waiting, fitted just for you. Jesus wouldn’t have said so if it weren’t true. —Randy Kilgore

Jesus, I can’t wait to live in the home You have prepared for me. Thank You that no matter what my earthly place holds, comfort or pain, my home with You will be so much better.

May the memory of our earthly place point us with hope to our heavenly place.

INSIGHT: Today’s passage contains a beautiful insight into what makes our future in heaven so wonderful. In verse 9, Nehemiah quotes Moses saying that God will bring His people into the place where His name dwells. It is God’s presence that makes our future worth waiting for.
Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – A Deadly Weapon

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Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; . . . they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:31

 

Read: Nehemiah 4:1-10
Bible in a Year: Numbers 26-27; Mark 8:1-21

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali used several ring tactics to defeat his opponents; one tactic was taunting. In his fight with George Foreman in 1974, Ali taunted Foreman, “Hit harder! Show me something, George. That don’t hurt. I thought you were supposed to be bad.” Fuming, Foreman punched away furiously, wasting his energy and weakening his confidence.

It’s an old tactic. By referring to Nehemiah’s efforts at rebuilding the broken wall of Jerusalem as nothing more than a fox’s playground (Neh. 4:3), Tobiah intended to weaken the workers with poisonous words of discouragement. Goliath tried it on David by despising the boy’s simple weapons of a sling and stones (1 Sam. 17:41-44).

A discouraging remark can be a deadly weapon. Nehemiah refused to surrender to Tobiah’s discouragements, just as David rejected Goliath’s diabolical teasing. Focusing on God and His help rather than on their discouraging situations, David and Nehemiah both achieved victory.

Taunting can come from anybody, including those who are close to us. Responding to them negatively only saps our energy. But God encourages us through His promises: He will never forsake us (Ps. 9:10; Heb. 13:5), and He invites us to rely on His help (Heb. 4:16). —Lawrence Darmani

Lord, it’s easy to let discouragement sap my energy and joy. Help me to reject all agents of discouragement in my life and to trust in You for comfort and strength.

If you’re in a tunnel of discouragement, keep walking toward the Light.
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Our Daily Bread – Strengthen My Hands

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Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. —Nehemiah 6:9

Read: Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15

Bible in a Year: Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17

Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, is the man credited with making Singapore what it is today. During his leadership, Singapore grew to be rich and prosperous and one of the most developed nations in Asia. Asked if he ever felt like giving up when he faced criticism and challenges during his many years of public service, he replied, “This is a life-long commitment.”

Nehemiah, who led in the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, refused to give up. He faced insults and intimidation from the enemies all around him as well as injustices from his own people (Neh. 4–5). His enemies even insinuated that he had a personal agenda (6:6-7). He sought help from God while taking every defensive step he could.

Despite the challenges, the wall was completed in 52 days (6:15). But Nehemiah’s work was not complete. He encouraged the Israelites to study the Scriptures, to worship, and to keep God’s law. After completing 12 years as governor (5:14), he returned to make sure his reforms were continuing (13:6). Nehemiah had a life-long commitment to leading the people.

We all face challenges and difficulties in life. But as God helped Nehemiah, He will also strengthen our hands (6:9) for the rest of our lives in whatever tasks He gives to us.—C. P. Hia

Dear Lord, sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged when faced with criticism or challenges. Help me to persevere and grant me the strength to be faithful to what You have called me to do.

Life’s challenges are designed not to break us but to bend us toward God.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – What More You Can Do

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What do you do when you are stressed out and anxious? If you’re like many Christians, you correctly read the Psalms, or any of His other promises, and your mind is comforted and faith replaces fear. But what more can you do when threats are real, your destruction imminent?

I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah was no stranger to danger. One of his jobs as cupbearer was to taste the king’s food and drink to make sure it wasn’t poisonous. When he was given permission to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls, he knew that he would have potentially fatal opposition – so he turned to God in fasting and prayer. In both the Old and New Testaments, when God’s people were hard pressed, they prayed and fasted.

Today, America faces real threats. It’s time to intensify your efforts to do something about it. As the Lord leads, begin a habit of fasting. Couple that with increased and concentrated prayer for America and its people. Plead for revival in these last days. Vanquish your fear and confront your spiritual enemy. Deliverance will be yours!

Recommended Reading: Matthew 6:5-18

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – Pray First

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The news was disheartening. Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem to a small remnant of Jews who had survived the exile. The walls of the city had been broken down and fire had destroyed its gates. There was a job to be done. But progress was slow because the people were feeble and the enemies were many.

And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

Nehemiah 4:9

Even under these circumstances, they did not quit. Understand the way they prioritized their task: they prayed, they set a guard and they worked. As one commentary described it, “When…any man of God discovers that God’s work and his work are one and the same thing, the aspect of affairs is changed. The contest is then spiritual. The forces arrayed are light and darkness, truth and error, and God and the devil…Prayer first, then work, in the assurance that the prayer will be answered and the work successful.” Nehemiah and the remnant succeeded.

Let it be the same for you. Study God’s Word to know Him better. Learn what He desires for you and others. Pray first and then work with confidence to accomplish your task. In like manner, may the leaders of this nation seek the Lord and do His will.

Recommended Reading: Nehemiah 4:7-14

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Defeating Discouragement

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Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 2:1-9

Over the course of a lifetime, disappointment will at times affect us all, causing temporary feelings of letdown. But if we are disappointed repeatedly, discouragement may set in. That can affect us in a variety of ways.

First, our mind becomes divided. We have difficulty concentrating, no matter where we are or who is with us. We keep thinking about the disappointment.

Next, we place blame. It’s easy to imagine we’ll feel better by claiming the problem is someone else’s fault. Or, we may get down on ourselves for our mistakes. We might even point the finger at God for allowing our trial.

As our attitude deteriorates, we start focusing on what we dislike or don’t have, and anger can occur; we lash out because people or circumstances have failed us. And unresolved anger often drives people away, increasing our disappointment.

In time, discouragement leads to unwise decisions. With a divided mind, a wrong focus, a negative attitude, and unresolved anger, we won’t think clearly or act in God-pleasing ways.

From Nehemiah’s story, we can learn how to defeat discouragement. After praying, we must look to God in anticipation of what He will do. The Lord moved the heart of the king, who showed favor toward his cupbearer by providing the soldiers and supplies he would need. Nehemiah accepted the help and moved forward to rebuild Jerusalem.

God will move hearts and send people to help us in discouraging times. Will you look to the Lord in hope and accept the assistance He sends?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Dealing With Discouragement

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Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Discouragement can feel like a big weight upon our shoulders. It slows our steps, makes work more difficult, and diminishes our enjoyment of life.

When people regard our best efforts as unsatisfactory, their displeasure often drags us down. Constant criticism from a family member, neighbor, or coworker can affect how we feel about ourselves.

Dissatisfaction with our own performance can also prove discouraging. Perhaps this relates to a personal weakness we can’t overcome or a high personal expectation we have failed to meet. Either reason can cause dejection.

In addition, past disappointments at times cause us to feel little hope about the future. And financial pressures, declining health, and painful relationships can also take an emotional toll on us.

The life of Nehemiah teaches an important lesson about handling discouragement. He was a Hebrew living in Persia and serving as cupbearer to the king. When he received a report about the poor condition of Jerusalem and the plight of the Jewish remnant living there, he was deeply affected. In his dismay over their situation, Nehemiah turned to the Lord in prayer. He knew that only his great God could change the situation. Likewise, when we are discouraged, our first priority should be to cry out to our heavenly Father.

In his prayer, Nehemiah praised God’s awesome character, confessed his sins and the sins of others, recalled divine promises, and presented his petition. Let’s follow Nehemiah’s example and take our disappointments to the Lord in prayer.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; P.G. – Broken Walls, Broken Hearts

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More than broken walls greeted Nehemiah when he returned to Jerusalem. The people themselves were broken. They despaired at the condition of their beloved city, weeping over its destruction. Through his inspired leadership, each family was charged with rebuilding not only his own home, but the portion of the Jerusalem walls where he lived. Within a year, they had settled in, but something was still missing…the Word of the Lord!

Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

For perhaps two generations or more, they’d had no preacher, no one to bring God’s laws to them. So they built a platform for Ezra, who read the Torah from daybreak to midday, making clear God’s message, and the people stood in rapt attention. Aware of their sinful condition, they wept and repented. Ezra proclaimed the day sacred and instructed the people to rejoice – for the Lord had sustained them.

Often today’s churchgoers sit and squirm under half an hour of instruction, and just as frequently leave with the same somber faces they had when they arrived. Where is the joy? Won’t you purpose in your own heart to be strengthened in the joy that knowing Jesus brings? And purpose, too, to intercede for the brokenhearted among the nation’s leadership.

Recommended Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Overcoming Distractions

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Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 4:1-20

On a daily basis, we are faced with distractions. Things like gossip, criticism, financial pressure, poor health, conflict, personal desires, and effusive praise from others bombard us. Any of these can influence us to turn away from God’s perfect plan. But today’s passage shows us the value of . . .

Single-mindedness. Nehemiah feared the Lord and conscientiously applied himself to His work. His mind was not divided. If we set our attention solely on God’s plan, our minds will stay fixed on the task, regardless of the difficulties.

God’s favor. The Lord’s blessing is always upon us when we’re obedient to Him. This knowledge gave Nehemiah confidence, and it should do the same for us, even in hard times.

Accountability. Nehemiah had to give a progress report to the king about what had been accomplished. One day we’ll stand before Jesus and account for how we used resources and gifts (1 Cor. 3:12-15).

Consistency in our prayer life. When the Israelites were ridiculed, they were helpless to stop their opponents’ speech. So Nehemiah prayed, and the people received strength to continue. As the plotting worsened, Nehemiah and his fellow workers cried out to God, who not only frustrated their enemies’ plans but also provided His people with discernment about how to avoid traps.

Nehemiah completed the ambitious project in just 52 days (Neh. 6:15). When we follow his example, God can achieve great things in and through us. Which of the above points from Nehemiah’s life can help you overcome your distractions?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Dealing With Distractions

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Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 1:1-2:20

When Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king, his heart was deeply troubled by news of the Israelites’ plight and the condition of their city. With the king’s permission, he set out to rebuild Jerusalem. He encountered obstacles but refused to be distracted from the task. His example shows the importance of . . .

• Being in the center of God’s will. When Nehemiah cried out to God about his brothers back home and the city’s state of disrepair, the Lord showed him exactly what to do. God also caused the king to be favorably disposed toward the request and to provide all that was needed. Knowing we are where God wants us to be will give us confidence to handle trials without being sidetracked.

• Remembering what the goal is. Nehemiah knew that the Lord’s priority for him was to rebuild the city. God has planned things for us to do, too, and His work is always of great value. We are not to underestimate our part in it, no matter how small it seems to us.

• Accomplishing each task. Following every crisis, Nehemiah returned to the task at hand. By remembering the Lord’s goal, we will stay in our God-appointed place, carry out each step, and remain on course.

• Identifying our distractions. Those who seek to interrupt our work, divert our attention, or attack us personally are not from God. With the Father’s help, Nehemiah recognized whom to heed and whom to ignore.

For the most part, distractions originate outside of ourselves. Who or what usually distracts you?

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Renew Your Joy

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Honor and majesty are [ found] in His presence; strength and joy are [ found] in His sanctuary. —1 Chronicles 16:27

Emotional trauma drains people of their energy. But the Word says, “Be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold” (Nehemiah 8:10). The devil wants to steal your joy because he knows that joy is your strength. He wants you to be weak so that you won’t resist the turmoil he sets against you. That is why sometimes we need each other.

Some days God will send messengers to build you up in faith and renew your joy. Some days He will send you to someone else who is in a weakened condition because Satan has been pounding on them. Be someone’s friend today. They may need a friend to stand beside them and encourage them and to lift them up and pray for them.

 

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – When Trouble Comes       

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From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. —Psalm 61:2

I have come to realize that when I am seeking to walk in the will of God and when I am engaging in the things of God, it is then I can expect opposition from the enemy of God, the Devil. Sometimes afflictions do not come into our lives because of our disobedience, but quite the opposite. Our afflictions, our troubles, and our hardships can come because we are obedient to God.

Remember Job and all of the hardship that came upon him because he was a perfect and an upright man, a man who feared God and turned away evil?

Then there was Nehemiah, who went out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that had been torn down and were lying in rubble. God had directed him to do this, but as soon as he undertook this great work for the Lord, a man named Sanballat opposed him and threatened him. What did Nehemiah do? Did he get a restraining order against Sanballat? Did he immediately stop what he was doing and run and hide? No. Instead, Nehemiah did what James says we should do when we are afflicted or when we are in trouble. He prayed. He said, “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads . . . for they have provoked You to anger before the builders” (Nehemiah 4:4-5). Nehemiah cried out to God and brought his problems to Him.

As 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” So when trouble comes, pray. Bring your troubles, your problems, and your cares to God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God Wants His Children to Listen

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Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 8:1-8

The principles in Scripture teach us the way to live holy lives. But in order to receive God’s instructions, we must learn how to hear Him speak through His Word.

In the days of Nehemiah, the Israelites who helped to rebuild Jerusalem were good listeners. After working together to restore the city wall, they asked Ezra the scribe to read to them from the scrolls containing God’s laws.

The reading lasted for hours, during which time the people stood and listened intently as the scribe read. They were focused on comprehending what had been recorded in the law of Moses.

The scrolls were written in Hebrew. But most of the Israelites standing in the square had spent their lives in Babylonian captivity, and Aramaic was the language they spoke. Yet they had come together, intent on learning about God’s character and determined to follow His plan. For this reason, the Levites translated “to give the sense so that [the people] understood the reading” (v. 8).

As Ezra praised the Lord, the peoples’ hearts were stirred, and they worshipped. Thanksgiving and humility prepared them to receive from God. They bowed in gratitude for the privilege of hearing the Scriptures.

We need to understand what pleases the Lord so we can obey His plan. That means we must be good listeners who develop greater humility, attentiveness, gratitude, and zeal for Him. As we learn, we should be prepared not only to share the Word with others but also to explain it so they, too, can know God and obey.

 

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Presidential Prayer Team; J.R. – Restoration Business

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The Civil War started out badly for Abraham Lincoln. “We are utterly and disgracefully routed, beaten, whipped,” wrote one Northerner after the disastrous loss at the Battle of Bull Run. And newsman Horace Greeley told Lincoln it was best for the country to “make peace with the rebels, and on their own terms.” But the President, historian James McPherson writes, was “filled with grim determination.” He immediately began making plans for the prosecution of the war – and victory.

The great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him.

Nehemiah 1:5

How do you react to bad news? Nehemiah’s example, like Lincoln’s, is instructive. Upon hearing that Jerusalem had been broken down and its gates destroyed, he “wept and mourned for days,” (Nehemiah 1:4)…and then began to praise the God who would save His people. Even in the worst of times, remember that God is “great and awesome” and ready to do wonderful things.

America’s future looked bleak following Bull Run. Jerusalem was written off after being overrun by its enemies. But the Lord restored them and made them great again, against all odds. Today, pray for the nation’s leaders with the belief – and grim determination – that God is still in the business of restoration…and that you will be a part of it!

Recommended Reading: Joel 2:23-27

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — No Appetite

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Our Daily Bread

Nehemiah 8:1-12

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. —1 Peter 2:2

When I was battling a bad cold recently, I lost my appetite. I could go through an entire day without eating much food. Water would suffice. But I knew I couldn’t survive long on water alone. I needed to regain my appetite because my body needed nourishment.

When the people of Israel came back from exile in Babylon, their spiritual appetite was weak. They had departed from God and His ways. To get the people back to spiritual health, Nehemiah organized a Bible seminar, and Ezra was the teacher.

Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses from morning until midday, feeding the people with the truth of God (Neh. 8:3). And the people listened attentively. In fact, their appetite for God’s Word was so stirred that the family leaders and the priests and Levites met with Ezra the following day to study the law in greater detail because they wanted to understand it (v.13).

When we feel estranged from God or spiritually weak, we can find spiritual nourishment from God’s Word. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Ask God to give you a renewed desire for relationship with Him, and begin feeding your heart, soul, and mind with His Word. —Poh Fang Chia

Break Thou the Bread of life, dear Lord, to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord,

My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word. —Lathbury

Feeding on God’s Word keeps us strong and healthy in the Lord.

Bible in a year: Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Welcome Back

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Nehemiah 9:7-21

You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. —Nehemiah 9:17

Jim decided to follow Christ at the age of 10. Fifteen years later his commitment had faded. He had adopted a live-for-the-moment philosophy and developed some bad habits. Then his life seemed to fall apart. He had problems at work. Three family members died almost simultaneously. Fears and doubts began to plague Jim, and nothing seemed to help—until one day when he read Psalm 121:2, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” These words cut through the fear and confusion in his heart. He turned back to God for help, and God welcomed him.

Jim’s spiritual journey reminds me of ancient Israel’s history. The Israelites had a unique relationship with God—they were His chosen people (Neh. 9:1-15). However, they spent many years rebelling and ignoring God’s goodness, turning away to follow their own path (vv.16-21). Yet when they returned to Him and repented, God was “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (v.17).

These divine qualities encourage us to draw near to God—even after we have wandered away from Him. When we humbly abandon our rebellious ways and recommit ourselves to God’s ways, He will show compassion and welcome us back to closeness with Him. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,

Calling for you and for me;

See on the portals He’s waiting and watching,

Watching for you and for me. —Thompson

God’s arms of welcome are always open.

Bible in a year: Ezekiel 8-10; Hebrews 13

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Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Sing It Out

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After 52 days of hard labor, fighting enemies and dealing with internal problems, the Israelites and their leader Nehemiah finished the temple wall. The wall not only protected them, but it also reestablished Jerusalem as a city of worship. “And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.” (Nehemiah 12:27)

I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks.

Nehemiah 12:31

Today, choirs aren’t to entertain and encourage God’s people, though they may do that. Their primary purpose is to lead the congregation in praise and gratitude to the Lord. Worship and giving thanks isn’t just a nice idea. It should be an important part of daily Christian life. God is great and mighty and worthy of all praise and thanksgiving!

And here’s a bonus: if your mind is busy giving thanks, it will spend less time in fear and worry. Today, and every day, give thanks for the nation’s blessings and pray for God’s help and intervention in its troubles.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 100