“They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.” Nehemiah 3
Throughout the third chapter, the concentration on where they began the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem is obvious. Jerusalem would eventually be fortified with walls but the crucial work began with accesses into the city, the gates. Jerusalem had many gates which led into and out of the city. Securing the gates first was crucial as they marked entry points where the enemy’s assaults were always concentrated. Houses were built both around these gates and into the walls which supported these gates. ‘Nehemiah assigned sections of the wall to those whose houses were located in that section; thus they had a greater interest in performing their work well.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
As the Body of Christ we have a part in building the church and protecting what it stands for in our culture. The enemy has entered into the region, torn down the walls and has too much access, too many gates. Just as the wall around Jerusalem, we all have a part in rebuilding the wall around Christianity. God gave us this awesome responsibility in His word. ‘Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ 1 Co. 12:27.
We are called to work on our spiritual gates as it is the access Satan has into our mind and hearts. What are we allowing into our hearts and minds through the gates of television or inappropriate conversation? What hinges of bitterness or selfishness are rusting and losing strength in our attempts to protect the Body of Christ? What access are we giving the enemy who is lingering around the gates for the perfect opportunity?
Through our adversities God is trying to fortify our gates and strengthen our testimonies. In the time of Nehemiah, he gave each man the gate closest to his home to repair and monitor. The gate that God assigned me is a grief ministry, and He uses my past suffering for others to rebuild their hearts which are in disrepair. In this ministry I am surrounded by torn down hearts and broken dreams. He has used my daughter who has overcome addiction to sponsor and encourage other women to rebuild their walls of dignity and a life of sobriety.
It doesn’t matter what our adversity has been, God will use it as access for others. ‘All these different people were working together with one purpose in mind: to rebuild the wall. So it is among Christians. Our one overriding purpose is to build up the church of Christ and to make disciples of all nations. And Christ has assigned to each of us our own ‘section of the wall.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
We will all suffer outside the gate until we enter the Gates of Heaven. Even Jesus knew what it was like to suffer outside the gate. 'And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gates to make the people holy through his own blood...Let us, then, go to him...For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that has to come.' Hebrews 13:1
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Living Among the Ruins
“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the walls…’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king said to me.” Nehemiah 2:17-18
After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.
Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’
The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.
Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.
Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.
After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.
Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’
The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.
Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.
Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Acceptable Gifts
“My father had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord…Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple… ‘…there is no God like you – you who keep your covenant of love…who continue wholeheartedly in your way.’ ‘You have kept your promise…with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it – as it is today.’” 1Kings 8:17, 19, 23-24.
King David had a plan and was determined for God to have a physical temple. He had in his heart that his next work project would be to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. God confirmed through David’s prophet, Nathan, that while this was a good endeavor it wasn’t the work plan God had for David. God had His own reasons why David would not carry through with the desire of his heart but He did allow David’s son to carry out the plan. His son, Solomon was well aware of his dad’s desire and what God had told him. Although it must have stung David’s heart that his work plans didn’t match God’s plans, David was known as a man who had a heart for God. David’s heart was Spirit-purposed instead of flesh-purposed. ‘When David longed to build God a dwelling place for His Name, God reshaped the vision and fulfilled the promise by His own power.’ Nehemiah, p. 31.
I know in my own personal desires, I felt that God was leading me to write books. It was according to His will and plan for me to write one, but He then led me into another work plan. My writing is more of a day to day application than days spent in the process of publishing and book signings. Getting the message of a deeper fellowship with God was in my heart but He had a better way to accomplish spreading this message. I have struggled with letting go of what I had in my heart and accepting what means in which I am to operate.
Because David was looking onto the spiritual landscape through God’s desires he was able to respond with complete joy and gratitude. There is one thing that will move us from our desire to the desire of God as Paul wrote about in 2 Co. 8:1-12…grace. ‘…we want you to know about the grace that God has given…but they gave themselves first to the Lord…And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable.’
I know personally that anytime I give myself to the Lord first, He will reshape the vision in my heart and give me the grace to accept it. Many times, I have prayed for a willing heart to accept the things that disappoint me and reshape the visions that are deep in my heart.
‘…with your mouth you have promised it and with your hands you will fulfill it – as it is today.’
King David had a plan and was determined for God to have a physical temple. He had in his heart that his next work project would be to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. God confirmed through David’s prophet, Nathan, that while this was a good endeavor it wasn’t the work plan God had for David. God had His own reasons why David would not carry through with the desire of his heart but He did allow David’s son to carry out the plan. His son, Solomon was well aware of his dad’s desire and what God had told him. Although it must have stung David’s heart that his work plans didn’t match God’s plans, David was known as a man who had a heart for God. David’s heart was Spirit-purposed instead of flesh-purposed. ‘When David longed to build God a dwelling place for His Name, God reshaped the vision and fulfilled the promise by His own power.’ Nehemiah, p. 31.
I know in my own personal desires, I felt that God was leading me to write books. It was according to His will and plan for me to write one, but He then led me into another work plan. My writing is more of a day to day application than days spent in the process of publishing and book signings. Getting the message of a deeper fellowship with God was in my heart but He had a better way to accomplish spreading this message. I have struggled with letting go of what I had in my heart and accepting what means in which I am to operate.
Because David was looking onto the spiritual landscape through God’s desires he was able to respond with complete joy and gratitude. There is one thing that will move us from our desire to the desire of God as Paul wrote about in 2 Co. 8:1-12…grace. ‘…we want you to know about the grace that God has given…but they gave themselves first to the Lord…And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable.’
I know personally that anytime I give myself to the Lord first, He will reshape the vision in my heart and give me the grace to accept it. Many times, I have prayed for a willing heart to accept the things that disappoint me and reshape the visions that are deep in my heart.
‘…with your mouth you have promised it and with your hands you will fulfill it – as it is today.’
Monday, February 20, 2012
Very Much Disturbed!
“And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests… ‘And may I have a letter…to the keeper of the king’s forest’…The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. …they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” Nehemiah 2:8-10.
Once Nehemiah had learned of the continued destruction of the walls of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people, he began fasting and praying with a broken heart. Through his tears and with passion, he asked God for both his forgiveness and the forgiveness of their people. He reminded God of past instructions with Moses regarding the Israelites, and future promises for those who turned their hearts back to Him. These prayers and fasts continued for four months until God opened an opportunity with His perfect timing. When Nehemiah approached the king, at God’s leading, he was not only given everything he requested but the king gave him more than he asked. He gave him an extra level of protection as he made his way back to Jerusalem. He was to pass through two regions where the leaders of those regions spent their focus jockeying for political power and influence. They were not happy that they had to grant passage to someone who might threaten their regions.
Where do I begin to draw application in a passage with so many Christian truths? Let’s begin with Nehemiah’s prayer. Once he felt compassion for a certain group of people, his first reaction was focus and faithfulness to approach God. He didn’t run off with a half-baked plan before sitting before the Lord. Scripture tells us that it was four months before God gave him the proper opportunity. His prayers not only focused on the suffering of others but began with his own need of repentance. God cannot use us effectively in our ministries until we become clean before Him. ‘…he was aware that he too needed pardoning…we have a tendency to measure everyone else’s ‘bigger’ sin against our far lesser sin…When we do this we set ourselves up for believing that other people need God’s grace and forgiveness much more than we do.’ Nehemiah – A heart that can break, p. 20. We see him giving God all the credit and glory as he states that everything was accomplished because he was operating in God’s grace and favor in his endeavor.
We must use this approach in our spiritual lives as we live to have eternal significance on earth in God’s kingdom. We must sit before the Lord with our passions and ministries, allowing Him complete license to move in and out of His ministries. We must confess our sins to clean our hearts in preparation for our ministries. Part of this confession must be a humbling of our hearts and a sincere attitude of gratitude with the place that God has assigned us. We must be attuned to His timing to not miss those windows of opportunity to move at His request. With all of these principles in place we are guaranteed to receive more than what we request. We are guaranteed success and provision in moving through our ministries. We can move with certainty that the enemy, who lives and moves within our regions, will be very much disturbed that we have come to promote the welfare of those who Christ Jesus loves!
Satan knows that we have been given a sealed note of passage through the King’s forest to pave the way to respond to the suffering people of God. Oh, he will be very much disturbed!
Once Nehemiah had learned of the continued destruction of the walls of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people, he began fasting and praying with a broken heart. Through his tears and with passion, he asked God for both his forgiveness and the forgiveness of their people. He reminded God of past instructions with Moses regarding the Israelites, and future promises for those who turned their hearts back to Him. These prayers and fasts continued for four months until God opened an opportunity with His perfect timing. When Nehemiah approached the king, at God’s leading, he was not only given everything he requested but the king gave him more than he asked. He gave him an extra level of protection as he made his way back to Jerusalem. He was to pass through two regions where the leaders of those regions spent their focus jockeying for political power and influence. They were not happy that they had to grant passage to someone who might threaten their regions.
Where do I begin to draw application in a passage with so many Christian truths? Let’s begin with Nehemiah’s prayer. Once he felt compassion for a certain group of people, his first reaction was focus and faithfulness to approach God. He didn’t run off with a half-baked plan before sitting before the Lord. Scripture tells us that it was four months before God gave him the proper opportunity. His prayers not only focused on the suffering of others but began with his own need of repentance. God cannot use us effectively in our ministries until we become clean before Him. ‘…he was aware that he too needed pardoning…we have a tendency to measure everyone else’s ‘bigger’ sin against our far lesser sin…When we do this we set ourselves up for believing that other people need God’s grace and forgiveness much more than we do.’ Nehemiah – A heart that can break, p. 20. We see him giving God all the credit and glory as he states that everything was accomplished because he was operating in God’s grace and favor in his endeavor.
We must use this approach in our spiritual lives as we live to have eternal significance on earth in God’s kingdom. We must sit before the Lord with our passions and ministries, allowing Him complete license to move in and out of His ministries. We must confess our sins to clean our hearts in preparation for our ministries. Part of this confession must be a humbling of our hearts and a sincere attitude of gratitude with the place that God has assigned us. We must be attuned to His timing to not miss those windows of opportunity to move at His request. With all of these principles in place we are guaranteed to receive more than what we request. We are guaranteed success and provision in moving through our ministries. We can move with certainty that the enemy, who lives and moves within our regions, will be very much disturbed that we have come to promote the welfare of those who Christ Jesus loves!
Satan knows that we have been given a sealed note of passage through the King’s forest to pave the way to respond to the suffering people of God. Oh, he will be very much disturbed!
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Radiant Face of Security
“…we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” Hebrews 6:18-20.
I am presently teaching a Bible Study on insecurity of which most of us suffer in one way or another. My battle cry of insecurity has always been ‘I am not smart enough,’ which is why God has me teaching this study blindly. I cannot wrap my mind around this larger than life topic, and it appears that I am going to be totally dependent on God for this endeavor. It seems that just in the nick of time God shows me what security looks like. He displays it so prominently I am humbled by its presence and aware of how far I have to go.
Yesterday, I received an email from an amazing woman and friend who shared a personal story with me regarding action stemming from her compassion for a woman she met. The subject of her compassion was a young woman who journeyed through cancer at a very early age. My friend describes her encounter with the woman who lives Hebrews 6:18-20. She wrote: ‘She is tall, communicates with confidence, walks tall, holds her head up, smiles and speaks very well. She has no teeth on the left side of her mouth. However, her skin is beautiful. At the restaurant, people around us would stare at her, and I felt the critical stares. I am sure she gets this all the time...so later in the week, I asked our mutual friend of her past cancer. I was told that her cancer was a mass inside the left side of her head. She had 4 surgeries at M. D. Anderson in Houston, including chemo and radiation. She has had transplants of tissue from her legs to the inside of her mouth. There is NO PLACE to connect teeth, or re-build to the inside of her mouth. The cheek on the outside of her face looks beautiful with no scars. But the interior of her mouth has no way to attach anything. She is able to eat food on the right side, for which she is thankful. My compassion got the best of me and I sent our mutual friend to tell her I wanted to do a fundraiser to pay for additional surgery. She said this: "Oh, there is no way....and it's ok. I am so thankful that the surgeon was able to save my eye and face! I can live without teeth on one side!" So young...leads a youth worship at her home church, sings beautifully, majoring in Culinary Arts and babysits to earn spending money. So, compassion got the best of me only to learn how strong this beautiful young girl is, and how weak I was to feel pain for her for what she obviously has already overcome.’
In reading this it was as if I heard a foreign language, one for which I needed an interpreter. I had to process the depth of this woman’s security. I closed my eyes and wanted to picture the radiant smile on the face of a woman who reflects glory. I had to picture the woman who believes that she is who God says she is – the daughter of a King… a woman who has access to the inner sanctuary with Christ. She is a woman anchored in God’s opinion of her resting in the security of His approval and acceptance.
How we would have missed out on the beautiful face of security had my friend not reached out in compassion. Compassion brings blessings back to us as we become the rescued in our efforts to rescue others.
‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…behind the curtain…with Jesus…’
I am presently teaching a Bible Study on insecurity of which most of us suffer in one way or another. My battle cry of insecurity has always been ‘I am not smart enough,’ which is why God has me teaching this study blindly. I cannot wrap my mind around this larger than life topic, and it appears that I am going to be totally dependent on God for this endeavor. It seems that just in the nick of time God shows me what security looks like. He displays it so prominently I am humbled by its presence and aware of how far I have to go.
Yesterday, I received an email from an amazing woman and friend who shared a personal story with me regarding action stemming from her compassion for a woman she met. The subject of her compassion was a young woman who journeyed through cancer at a very early age. My friend describes her encounter with the woman who lives Hebrews 6:18-20. She wrote: ‘She is tall, communicates with confidence, walks tall, holds her head up, smiles and speaks very well. She has no teeth on the left side of her mouth. However, her skin is beautiful. At the restaurant, people around us would stare at her, and I felt the critical stares. I am sure she gets this all the time...so later in the week, I asked our mutual friend of her past cancer. I was told that her cancer was a mass inside the left side of her head. She had 4 surgeries at M. D. Anderson in Houston, including chemo and radiation. She has had transplants of tissue from her legs to the inside of her mouth. There is NO PLACE to connect teeth, or re-build to the inside of her mouth. The cheek on the outside of her face looks beautiful with no scars. But the interior of her mouth has no way to attach anything. She is able to eat food on the right side, for which she is thankful. My compassion got the best of me and I sent our mutual friend to tell her I wanted to do a fundraiser to pay for additional surgery. She said this: "Oh, there is no way....and it's ok. I am so thankful that the surgeon was able to save my eye and face! I can live without teeth on one side!" So young...leads a youth worship at her home church, sings beautifully, majoring in Culinary Arts and babysits to earn spending money. So, compassion got the best of me only to learn how strong this beautiful young girl is, and how weak I was to feel pain for her for what she obviously has already overcome.’
In reading this it was as if I heard a foreign language, one for which I needed an interpreter. I had to process the depth of this woman’s security. I closed my eyes and wanted to picture the radiant smile on the face of a woman who reflects glory. I had to picture the woman who believes that she is who God says she is – the daughter of a King… a woman who has access to the inner sanctuary with Christ. She is a woman anchored in God’s opinion of her resting in the security of His approval and acceptance.
How we would have missed out on the beautiful face of security had my friend not reached out in compassion. Compassion brings blessings back to us as we become the rescued in our efforts to rescue others.
‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…behind the curtain…with Jesus…’
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Compassion's Gate
“Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.” Psalm 119:76. "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning…he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” Lam 3:22-23, 32.
These two men understood how to receive compassion. It was clear that the road to and from compassion was through the gate of God’s law, LOVE. The One who loves us deeply lavishes His compassion upon us because of that love, one being a product of the other.
A few years ago my daughter’s boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident devastating her heart. Because of the great love that we had developed between us through the years my compassion for her was unending. It never mattered how many talks had to be repeated, or how many tears had to be shed the sustaining anchor of my compassion for her was my overarching love for her. How less of a parent I am as I am measured to our Father…oh, how He must love us! The more we live for His law of love the more impact we will make for His kingdom through His flow of compassion into our lives. His compassion spills over into our hearts and the more we love, our compassion overflows to a hurting world.
This world provides such a numbing effect to our surroundings with its counterfeit and empty definition of love. We hear horrifying and heart breaking stories and for a moment we are touched, our heart is moved and we relate. But within the hour we have turned our hearts and focus to the dead things of this world. Our compassion must be put into action. We must turn our pity into priority. We must give to others poor in spirit what God has given to us. We must be courageous and pray the prayer of our author in Psalms:
“Let your compassion come to me that I may live”…Break our hearts for what breaks Your heart so we may live in love and not walk around dead in spirit.
These two men understood how to receive compassion. It was clear that the road to and from compassion was through the gate of God’s law, LOVE. The One who loves us deeply lavishes His compassion upon us because of that love, one being a product of the other.
A few years ago my daughter’s boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident devastating her heart. Because of the great love that we had developed between us through the years my compassion for her was unending. It never mattered how many talks had to be repeated, or how many tears had to be shed the sustaining anchor of my compassion for her was my overarching love for her. How less of a parent I am as I am measured to our Father…oh, how He must love us! The more we live for His law of love the more impact we will make for His kingdom through His flow of compassion into our lives. His compassion spills over into our hearts and the more we love, our compassion overflows to a hurting world.
This world provides such a numbing effect to our surroundings with its counterfeit and empty definition of love. We hear horrifying and heart breaking stories and for a moment we are touched, our heart is moved and we relate. But within the hour we have turned our hearts and focus to the dead things of this world. Our compassion must be put into action. We must turn our pity into priority. We must give to others poor in spirit what God has given to us. We must be courageous and pray the prayer of our author in Psalms:
“Let your compassion come to me that I may live”…Break our hearts for what breaks Your heart so we may live in love and not walk around dead in spirit.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Break Our Hearts
“In the month…while I was in the citadel of Susa…one of my brothers came…and I questioned them. They said to me, ‘Those…are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall…is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:1-4.
Have I ‘tripped over’ a precious book of the Bible! Before going to purchase a new Bible Study, I always pray to God for guidance in this purchase and a study that He feels I need. I am getting ready to begin a new session of GriefShare. I am well aware that I require fresh compassion in this endeavor. Like every study, God has divinely chosen yet another one specifically needed by my heart. In working with grief and adversity, it is very easy to get accustomed to the pain of others. I hear and witness so much suffering that the enemy tries to harden my heart and muffle my spirit. Well God will have none of it this morning!
In the beginning of the study of Nehemiah, I am reminded of the parallels in the opening of this story with our lives. He is the cupbearer of the king (very prestigious position) and is on holiday in the winter resort of Susa. He is surrounded no doubt with every luxury afforded and is definitely removed from the suffering of others. When his brother and some other men come to visit, he inquires about Jerusalem. The report they gave broke his heart for those far away.
How many times do we sit in our comfortable homes and community and actually inquire beyond ourselves? When do we purposely go out of our way to have the spiritual vision of those poor in spirit? When was the last time your heart was broken for someone other than your circle that prompted you to take action?
To have a heart like God, we must be willing to ask God to break our heart for the things for which His heart breaks. We must be willing to ask to be a part of the reconciliation of the pain of others instead of the comfort of our own lives. So many people right here in our communities have broken lives and burnt out hope.
We must sit down in prayer, weep for others instead of just for ourselves, and ask God for an action plan. We must be prepared to leave our comfortable ‘resorts’ and engage in the suffering of others. Jesus did this and we are to live a life exemplified by Him.
Lord, we are afraid to pray this prayer but give us courage to approach you with the request to break our heart for the things that break Yours. Amen
Have I ‘tripped over’ a precious book of the Bible! Before going to purchase a new Bible Study, I always pray to God for guidance in this purchase and a study that He feels I need. I am getting ready to begin a new session of GriefShare. I am well aware that I require fresh compassion in this endeavor. Like every study, God has divinely chosen yet another one specifically needed by my heart. In working with grief and adversity, it is very easy to get accustomed to the pain of others. I hear and witness so much suffering that the enemy tries to harden my heart and muffle my spirit. Well God will have none of it this morning!
In the beginning of the study of Nehemiah, I am reminded of the parallels in the opening of this story with our lives. He is the cupbearer of the king (very prestigious position) and is on holiday in the winter resort of Susa. He is surrounded no doubt with every luxury afforded and is definitely removed from the suffering of others. When his brother and some other men come to visit, he inquires about Jerusalem. The report they gave broke his heart for those far away.
How many times do we sit in our comfortable homes and community and actually inquire beyond ourselves? When do we purposely go out of our way to have the spiritual vision of those poor in spirit? When was the last time your heart was broken for someone other than your circle that prompted you to take action?
To have a heart like God, we must be willing to ask God to break our heart for the things for which His heart breaks. We must be willing to ask to be a part of the reconciliation of the pain of others instead of the comfort of our own lives. So many people right here in our communities have broken lives and burnt out hope.
We must sit down in prayer, weep for others instead of just for ourselves, and ask God for an action plan. We must be prepared to leave our comfortable ‘resorts’ and engage in the suffering of others. Jesus did this and we are to live a life exemplified by Him.
Lord, we are afraid to pray this prayer but give us courage to approach you with the request to break our heart for the things that break Yours. Amen
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