"Rebuilding the City of Our Fathers" (Part 3)

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2:1-5 NIV).

I hope you are following this series. However, if you are just joining Morning Devotionals you may find the other issues on the web at www.gracerestoration.org. Today we come to the second principle which is revealed in Nehemiah’s exchange with King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah had come to feel the burden of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but he didn’t know specifically what to do until he prayed! Simply stated praying and spending time with God is essential to understanding the call from God. Success in your life depends on success in your personal time with God. If you fail in your personal devotions with God, you will fail.

Some years ago I read the experience of Jay Kesler, once President of Youth for Christ and the President of Taylor University from 1985-2000. He was on one of his frequent flights when lunch was served and the young man seated next to him declined a lunch tray. During the whole lunchtime this man sat with his head bowed, apparently in prayer. Kesler was impressed by the man's apparent devotion. He commented to the young man that he wondered if he was a Christian because it appeared that he was fasting. The young man replied with words that shook Kelser to the core of his being. "I am a Satanist and the members of my church have agreed to fast every Friday at noon. During that time we pray that the leaders of the Christian world will fall. We pray that they will fall into sexual sin, and that their family life would crumble." They understood the importance of prayer!

Before you dismiss that story as merely an isolated incident, in March, 2009 Richard Dawkins, noted atheist, began a tour across our nation’s universities evangelizing to his cause. At the end of the lectures he invites people to come forward to denounce their “faith” and be “debaptized.” They are immersed with the declaration that they no longer believe in God! Our walls have been reduced to rubble and our nation is on the brink of destruction! I fear that many in the church today have ignored the signs of our times and continue to imagine that someone else will guard their family and community. The call to rebuild the walls is clearer than ever. To succeed we must be joined in prayer and devotion to our God. Join me in commitment to daily devotion and prayer!

"The Thirsty Deer" (Part 2)

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2 NIV).

We are nearly moved! Another few days of loading the truck with boxes and we’ll be able to settle into out new address! We won’t be done by any means, but at least we can start to put everything away make it our home. That being said, I hope this devotional “catches us up.”

I do appreciate all the response to the first in this series. One struck me as particularly common to all of the rest. One follower of Morning Devotionals wrote:

Oh, Don, I am that thirsty deer this morning, every morning! And, sometimes, in I dart around without first asking for the guidance that is there with me. Each morning your obedience nourishes my soul, reminds me of my role in my life (an obedient vessel for the Lord) and puts me back on track!

Please know that I write as the Lord speaks to me. Usually it’s a common experience for many. I hope that these short thought are practical and inspiration as you navigate through all the challenges of your life. Perhaps you can tell that the last year has been a real challenge for me, as many previous years have been. I must be honest and say that there have been times when they seemed overwhelming. I’ll share more about that as we continue in the series, however, let me say that I have often found myself praying something like this: “Oh, God, I know you are here, but please just let me know what you want me to do!” You know, He has always answered that prayer clearly. In fact, one of those prayers has a great deal to with the establishment of Grace Restoration Ministries in a way that will be fuller than ever before. I can also tell you that this is the “scariest” thing I have done in a long time! However, my prayers have led me to desperation for more of God and the accomplishment of his call and will in my life.

Have you ever been desperate for God? Have you ever passionately desired an audience with the living God? Has there ever been a time when you didn’t want to hear anyone’s opinion except God? Perhaps you are going through a time right now when you feel your only hope is God! Great! You’re in the perfect spot to hear a clear word from Him. I’m convinced that in your quietness before God you will see and experience the activity of God. God is working, often behind the scenes, to bring about a plan far better than anything you or I could have ever imagined. God is Sovereign. He does care. God does watch over His children; and God truly does work all things for good!

Don’t quit yet! Let’s continue to thirst for the Living God!