“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. I confess the sins
we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against
you.” Nehemiah 1:6 (NIV)
Nehemiah
lived in exile in the city of Susa. Although he was a prisoner, he had an
important job in the palace, that of cupbearer to the king.
His
brother Hanani journeyed to Susa. Nehemiah asked about those that survived the
exile. What he heard broke his heart. He mourned and fasted and prayed for a
lengthy time.
Nehemiah
prayed that his God be close so He could hear his requests concerning the
people of Israel. He confessed the sins of the Israelites, including himself
and his father.
In our
21st Century, we have times when a circumstance burdens us so much that we can
only fast and pray about it. Sometimes, we have to include ourselves as
participators in the sins that we see around us. When we want to see a
situation improve, we may have to search our hearts to see if we might be part
of the problem. If we discover that, indeed, we are part of the problem, we are
to confess our guilt before God.
We
confess our need for God when we approach His throne. As we pray to Him, we
learn that we can confess to Him through Jesus Christ.
Hi Cecelia! WOW! This site is so different! I love the new look. I know I've been out of blogging for several weeks, so maybe you've had this a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am familiar with times that require prayer and fasting. We can truly reflect the life of Christ when we do that. May God cover us with his grace and keep us in the palm of his hand.
Blessings!
Ceil
Ceil: Thank you for stopping in. Thank you for your comment about the new look. We have to search our hearts to see if, indeed we are part of the problem or the sin we see. Blessings to you and yours.
DeleteExcellent. Wonderful. I love it.
ReplyDeleteMary: Thank you for your kind thoughts.
DeleteKeep sharing your insights with us, they are life changing.
ReplyDeleteMary: Thank you for the warm compliments. I share what God gives me.
DeleteYes, sometimes we do need to take a good look at ourselves to be sure we aren't a part of the problem...and if we are, we can ask the Lord to forgive us and help us to make it right. Oftentimes we tend to point our fingers at others and never remember to look at the fingers on our hand that are pointing back at us...it is good to be honest with ourselves and with the Lord...and then He will help us get it right. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteThank you,Pam, for the kind thoughts.Sometimes I have to remember about those three fingers pointing back at me. Just the thought of that makes me humble.
Delete