| Read Nehemiah 8-The people gather at the square to hear Ezra, who reads the Law publicly. INSIGHT No one appreciates a glass of water like a man who is truly thirsty. It takes deprivation to appreciate the significance of our blessings. That is why the Christian life is not always easy—with blessings flowing unabated. We get dull and stale to it—just as we do when we have too much food and too little exercise. We are indeed blessed to have the Word of God in such abundance. The returning Jews have never heard the Word, and they are truly thirsty. They stand — from dawn till dusk — and drink it in. To appreciate the Word in your life, imagine not having it at all. PRAYER Give the Lord your praise, because He knows us and loves us and will never leave or forsake us: You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 97:10-12). Pause for praise and thanksgiving. As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord: Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7). Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). The Lord encourages us to come to Him with our concerns and desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). |
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Rebirth of Israel
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Completing what you set out to Do
Read Nehemiah 6-The work on the wall is completed.
INSIGHT
Nehemiah resists the efforts of the adversaries to discourage him or distract him from working on the wall. He is convinced that he is doing the right thing, and he steadfastly resists the interference. The Old Testament often has a literal illustration of a spiritual truth that is explained in the New Testament. In Ephesians 6:11, we read that we are to "put on the whole armor of God": the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Once these are in place, we "resist"—"stand firm!" It is also a testament to pushing through and completing what we have been sent to do. So many times we lose heart and stop what we were sent to do when God's deliverance is right around the corner.
PRAYER
Praise God for victory in spiritual warfare as we use His armor:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods. . . .
O come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand
(Psalm 95:1-3, 6-7).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving.
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,
and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8).
INSIGHT
Nehemiah resists the efforts of the adversaries to discourage him or distract him from working on the wall. He is convinced that he is doing the right thing, and he steadfastly resists the interference. The Old Testament often has a literal illustration of a spiritual truth that is explained in the New Testament. In Ephesians 6:11, we read that we are to "put on the whole armor of God": the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Once these are in place, we "resist"—"stand firm!" It is also a testament to pushing through and completing what we have been sent to do. So many times we lose heart and stop what we were sent to do when God's deliverance is right around the corner.
PRAYER
Praise God for victory in spiritual warfare as we use His armor:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods. . . .
O come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand
(Psalm 95:1-3, 6-7).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving.
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,
and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Greater faithfulness with your time
- The president and world affairs
- Your activities for the day
- Whatever else is on your heart
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8).
Friday, July 17, 2009
The lord brings Justice
Read-Nehemiah 5 Nehemiah stops the internal mistreatment among the Jews by force of example.
INSIGHT
The prospects for some of the returned exiles are bleak. There are deficient rains and poor harvests. As a result, the farmers mortgage their lands to their wealthier brethren and, in extreme cases, sell their children into slavery to pay the king´s taxes. The rich Jews, rather than helping out, are capitalizing on the situation to line their own pockets. This is inexcusable! Few things bring on more reproach to the cause of the Lord than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of those who claim to follow Him. Unselfish dedication to the common welfare of others in Christ is our spiritual obligation.
PRAYER
Because the Lord loves each of us equally and accepts our welfare as His obligation, we praise Him:
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting (Psalm 93:1-2).
He is your praise, and He is your God,
who has done for you these great and awesome things
which your eyes have seen (Deuteronomy 10:21).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed
(Isaiah 53:5).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:21-22).
INSIGHT
The prospects for some of the returned exiles are bleak. There are deficient rains and poor harvests. As a result, the farmers mortgage their lands to their wealthier brethren and, in extreme cases, sell their children into slavery to pay the king´s taxes. The rich Jews, rather than helping out, are capitalizing on the situation to line their own pockets. This is inexcusable! Few things bring on more reproach to the cause of the Lord than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of those who claim to follow Him. Unselfish dedication to the common welfare of others in Christ is our spiritual obligation.
PRAYER
Because the Lord loves each of us equally and accepts our welfare as His obligation, we praise Him:
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting (Psalm 93:1-2).
He is your praise, and He is your God,
who has done for you these great and awesome things
which your eyes have seen (Deuteronomy 10:21).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed
(Isaiah 53:5).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Greater love for fellow Christians
- Missions in Europe and Asia
- Your activities for the day
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:21-22).
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