The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nehemiah 1:5-6,
"Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel."
After hearing the plight of the returnees in Jerusalem and the city's broken and burned walls and gates, Nehemiah, while still in Susa, prayed to God. In looking for God's help to get King Artaxerxes to grant him leave (he was cupbearer to the king) to go help the people in Jerusalem, he asked God to listen to his prayer for help.
God did listen to Nehemiah's prayer and King Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah's request.
I am always amazed that God listens to our prayers, specifically my prayers, whenever I reflect on it. Why should he do such a thing? I am fully aware of God's love for all of us, including me, but I am also aware that I come from lost and fallen mankind. God loved us so much he sent his Son to pay the penalty for our sins so that we have opportunity to join his family, his kingdom, this too I struggle to wrap my mind around.
As the psalmist says,
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
Yet, God loves us! And, he listens to the prayers of those who are his.
Jesus taught us saying, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10.
The apostle John reflects this in his teaching on prayer and though he provides an important condition we need to be aware of, it is still astounding and amazing to me, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him."
"Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel."
After hearing the plight of the returnees in Jerusalem and the city's broken and burned walls and gates, Nehemiah, while still in Susa, prayed to God. In looking for God's help to get King Artaxerxes to grant him leave (he was cupbearer to the king) to go help the people in Jerusalem, he asked God to listen to his prayer for help.
God did listen to Nehemiah's prayer and King Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah's request.
I am always amazed that God listens to our prayers, specifically my prayers, whenever I reflect on it. Why should he do such a thing? I am fully aware of God's love for all of us, including me, but I am also aware that I come from lost and fallen mankind. God loved us so much he sent his Son to pay the penalty for our sins so that we have opportunity to join his family, his kingdom, this too I struggle to wrap my mind around.
As the psalmist says,
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
Yet, God loves us! And, he listens to the prayers of those who are his.
Jesus taught us saying, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10.
The apostle John reflects this in his teaching on prayer and though he provides an important condition we need to be aware of, it is still astounding and amazing to me, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him."
Imagine! The Creator of the entire cosmos listens to one such as me! Just breathtaking to reflect on, to behold!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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