Day 268 - 25 September 2021 reflections
Day 268, 25 September 2021
Nehemiah 1 - 5
Nehemiah 1
The Prayer of Nehemiah
1 (Ne 10:1; Zec 7:1) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hakaliah.
In the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the palace,
2 (Ne 7:2) Hanani, one of my relatives, and some men of Judah arrived. So I
asked them concerning the returning Jews who had been in captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
3 (Ne 2:17; 2Ki 25:10; Ne 2:3) They said to me, "The remnant that returned
from captivity is there in the province enduring great affliction
and reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem remains broken down,
and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 (Ne 2:4; Ezr 10:1) When I heard these words, I sat down and wept
and mourned for days. Then I fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 Ex 20:6; Dt 7:21and said:
"I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
6 (Da 9:20; 2Ch 6:40) Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open,
that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I now pray before You,
day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You.
Both my father's house and I have sinned.
7 (Ps 106:6) We have acted very corruptly against You
and have not obeyed the commandments, nor the statutes,
nor the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses.
8 (Dt 4:25-27; 28:64) "Please remember the word that You commanded
Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you behave unfaithfully, then I will scatter
you among the nations,
9 (Dt 12:5; Lev 26:39-42) but if you return to Me and keep My commandments
and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest part of the heavens,
I will gather them from there and bring them back to the place where I have
chosen to establish My name.'
10 (Dt 9:29; Ex 32:11) "Now these are Your servants and Your people,
whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
11 (Ne 1:6; 2:1O) Lord, I implore You, let Your ear be attentive
to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants
who delight to revere Your name. And let Your servant prosper this day, a
nd grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
For I was the king's cupbearer.
Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem
1 (Ezr 7:1; Ne 1:1) In the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year
of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took the wine
and gave it to the king. Never had I been upset in his presence.
2 (Pr 15:13) So the king said to me, "Why is your face troubled though
you do not seem sick? This is nothing but a troubled heart."
Then I became very much afraid
3 (Ne 1:3; Da 2:4) and said to the king, "May the king live forever!
Why should not my face be troubled when the city, the place
of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 (Ne 1:4) So the king said to me,
"What are you requesting about this matter?"
Immediately, I prayed to the God of heaven
5 and then said to the king, "If this pleases the king
and if this might be good for your servant who is before you,
then would you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs
so that I may rebuild it?"
6 (Ne 13:6; 5:14) The king, with the queen sitting beside him, said to me,
"How long would your journey be? And when will you return?"
Because it pleased the king to send me, I established a timetable for him.
7 (Ezr 7:21; 8:36) I further said to the king, "If this pleases the king,
may letters be given to me for the governors of the province
Beyond the River so that they would allow me to pass through
until I come to Judah,
8 (Ezr 7:6; Ne 7:2) as well as a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's
forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates
of the temple mount, for the city wall, and for the house into
which I will enter." The king granted me these things, because the good hand
of my God was upon me.
9 (Ezr 8:22) When I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River,
I gave them the king's letters. He also sent with me commanders of foot
and horse soldiers.
10 (Ne 2:19; 4:7) When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite
subordinate heard this, it deeply grieved them that there was a man
coming to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
11 (Ezr 8:32) When I arrived in Jerusalem, I was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men who were with me;
I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.
There was no animal with me, except the one on which I rode.
13 (Ne 1:3; 2Ch 26:9) So I went out by night by the Valley Gate toward
the Dragon's Well and then to the Dung Gate, because I was inspecting
the Âbroken-down walls of Jerusalem and its burned gates.
14 (Ne 3:15; 2Ki 20:20) Next I passed by the Fountain Gate
and then to the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.
15 (2Sa 15:23; Jn 18:1) By going up along the riverbed at night,
I inspected the wall. Then I turned back so that I could enter
by the Valley Gate, and then came back again.
16 The officials did not know where I went or what I did, since I had not
yet told it to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials,
or to any of the others who would do the work.
17 (Ne 1:3; Eze 5:14; Ps 44:13) Finally, I said to them, "You see the distress
that we are in, how Jerusalem is devastated and its gates are burned
with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will
no more be a reproach."
18 (2Sa 2:7) Then I told them that the hand of my God had been good to me
and also about the king's words that he had spoken to me.
And they said, "Let us rise up and build!"
So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 (Ne 6:6; 6:1-2; Ps 44:13-14) But when Sanballat the Horonite,
Tobiah the Ammonite subordinate, and Geshem the Arabian heard it,
they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said,
"What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20 (Ezr 4:3; Ne 2:4) Then answered I them and said to them,
"The God of heaven, He will enable us to prosper. Therefore we His servants
will arise and build, but you will have no portion, or right,
or memorial in Jerusalem."
Nehemiah 3
Rebuilding the Wall
1 (Ne 12:39; Jer 31:38; Ne 13:28) Then Eliashib the high priest rose up
with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate.
They sanctified it and erected its doors. From the Tower of the Hundred
to the Tower of Hananel, they sanctified the wall.
2 (Ne 7:36; Ezr 2:34) Next to him the men of Jericho built,
and next to them Zakkur the son of Imri built.
3 (Ne 12:39; 2Ch 33:14) The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate,
constructing its beams, erecting its doors, and installing locks
and bars for it.
4 (Ezr 8:33; Ne 3:21) Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah,
the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam the son of Berekiah,
the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to him Zadok the son of Baana
made repairs.
5 (2Sa 14:2; Ne 3:27) Next to them the Tekoites made repairs,
but their noblemen would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.
6 (Ne 12:39) Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah
repaired the Old Gate. They constructed its beams, erected its doors,
and installed locks and bars for it.
7 Next to them repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite
and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah,
places under the authority of the governor of the province Beyond the River.
8 (Ne 12:38; 3:31-32) Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah,
one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah,
the son of one of the apothecaries, made repairs, and they repaired Jerusalem
as far as the Broad Wall.
9 (Ne 3:12; 3:17) Next to him Rephaiah the son of Hur, commander of half
of the Jerusalem district, made repairs.
10 Next to him Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house.
Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
11 (Ne 12:38) Malkijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-Moab
repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Furnaces.
12 (Ne 3:9) Next to them Shallum the son of Hallohesh,
commander of the other half of the Jerusalem district, made repairs
along with his daughters.
13 (Ne 2:13; Jos 15:34) Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired
the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it, erected its doors, and installed locks
and bars for it, plus repaired one thousand cubits
[About 1,500 feet, or about 450 meters.] along on the wall to the Dung Gate.
14 (Jer 6:1; Ne 2:13) But the Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah the son
of Rekab, commander of the Beth Hakkerem district. He rebuilt it,
and erected its doors, and installed the locks and bars for it.
15 (Ne 12:37; Jn 9:7) Moreover, Shallun the son of Kol-Hozeh,
commander of the Mizpah district, made repairs to the Fountain Gate.
He rebuilt it, covered it, erected its doors, and installed the locks
and bars for it. He also repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's
garden as far as the steps going down from the City of David.
16 (2Ki 20:20; Ac 2:29) After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, commander of half
of the Beth Zur district, made repairs as far as the area across from the Tomb
of David plus to the constructed pool and to the house of the mighty.
17 (Jos 15:44) After him the Levites, under Rehum the son of Bani,
made repairs. Next to them HashÂabiah, commander of half of the Keilah
district, made repairs in his area.
18 After him their brothers, under Binnui the son of Henadad,
commander of the other half of the Keilah district, made repairs.
19 (2Ch 26:9) Next to them Ezer the son of Jeshua, commander of Mizpah,
made repairs to another section across from the ascent to the armory
at the corner.
20 (Ne 3:1) After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired
another section, from the corner to the door of the house of Eliashib
the high priest.
21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired
another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of it.
22 (Ne 12:28) After him the priests,
the men of the surrounding plain, made repairs.
23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house.
After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs
beside his house.
24 (Ne 3:19) After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section
from the house of Azariah as far as the corner plus the corner tower.
25 (Jer 32:2; 37:21) Palal the son of Uzai made repairs across from the corner
and to the tower protruding out of the king's upper house next
to the courtyard of the guards.
After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
26 (Ne 8:1; 11:21) The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs
from opposite the Water Gate eastward to the protruding tower.
27 (Ne 3:5) After them the Tekoites repaired another section across
from the great protruding tower as far as the wall of Ophel.
28 (2Ch 23:15; 2Ki 11:16) Up to the Horse Gate the priests made repairs
-each one across from his house.
29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired across from his house.
After him Shemaiah the son of Shekaniah, who was keeper of the East Gate,
made repairs.
30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph
repaired another section. After them Meshullam the son of Berekiah made
repairs across from his chamber.
31 (Ne 3:8; 3:32) After him Malkijah the goldsmith's son made repairs
as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants.
This was across from the Mustering Gate extending as far as the upper room
of the corner tower.
32 (Ne 3:1; 12:39) Between the upper room of the corner tower
and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Nehemiah 4
Opposition to the Rebuilding
1 (Ne 2:10; 2:19) When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall,
he became angry and was greatly irritated, and he mocked the Jews.
2 (Ezr 4:9-10; Ne 4:10) He spoke before his relatives and the army of Samaria
and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they fortifying themselves?
Will they make sacrifices? Can they complete this in a day?
Can they revive the burned-up stones out of the rubbish heaps?"
3 (Ne 2:10) Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said,
"Even what they are rebuilding, if even a fox climbed it,
that would break down their stone wall."
4 (Ps 79:12; 123:3-4) Hear, O our God, that we are despised. Turn
their reproach back upon their own head, and give them as spoil in a land
of captivity:
5 (Jer 18:23; Ps 109:14) No longer cover their iniquity nor blot out
their sin, which is before You since they have made insults
against the builders.
6 So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was solidified
up to half its height. The people had a passion for the work.
7 (Ne 2:10; 4:1) When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites,
and the Ashdodites heard how the restoration of Jerusalem's walls
was progressing and how the breaches had begun to be sealed,
it made them extremely furious.
8 (Ps 83:3-11) So they all conspired together to fight against Jerusalem
in order to cause it chaos.
9 (Ne 4:11) Nevertheless we prayed to our God, and, because of them,
we set up a watch for them day and night.
10 Judah had said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing though
there is much rubble. And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall."
11 Our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see until we have
entered in among them and slain them. Indeed, we will stop the work!"
12 When the Jews living near them came, they told us ten times,
"From every place where you turn, they will be against us."
13 (Ne 4:17-18) Therefore I set guards at the lowest positions
along the wall and just inside the wall at the unrepaired areas.
I also stationed the people by families providing them individually
their own swords, spears, and bows.
14 (Nu 14:9; 2Sa 10:12) After I looked around, I stood up
and said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people,
"Stop being terrified because of them! Remember instead that the Lord
is great and awesome. So fight for each other-and for your sons,
your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
15 (2Sa 17:14) Now when our enemies heard that this had become known to us
and that God had brought their counsel to nothing, then we all returned
to the wall, everyone to his work.
16 After that day, half of my servants did the work while the other half
handled the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Commanders were appointed
to support every house of Judah.
17 Those rebuilding the wall and those hauling the loads were working
with one hand doing the task, but with the other hand holding the weapon.
18 For the builders, everyone had his sword bound to his side,
even while rebuilding. The trumpet blower worked beside me.
19 I said to the nobles, the rulers, and to the rest of the people,
"The work is vast and over a large area. Since we are spread along the wall
far from each other,
20 (Ex 14:14; Dt 1:30) assemble to us there at the place where you hear
the trumpet sounded. Our God shall fight for us."
21 So we labored in the work with half of them holding spears
from sunrise to the rising of the stars.
22 Likewise at the same time I said to the people,
"Every man and his Âservant must lodge within Jerusalem.
By night, they may be a guard to us; by day, a laborer for the work."
23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard
who followed me took off our clothes.
Each carried his weapon, even when washing.
Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah Stops Oppression
1 (Isa 5:7) Now there was a great outcry of the people
and their wives against their fellow Jews.
2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and our daughters are many.
Therefore, let us acquire grain so that we may eat and live."
3 Others were saying, "We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards,
and houses so that we might acquire grain because of hunger."
4 (Ezr 4:13; 4:20) Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money
for the king's tribute against the value of our fields and vineyards.
5 (2Ki 4:1; Ge 37:27) Now our flesh is the same as the flesh of
our countrymen. Our children are like their children, but we are
subjugating our sons and our daughters as servants. Indeed,
some of our daughters are in bondage already, and we are powerless to do
anything because our fields and vineyards belong to others."
6 (Ex 11:8) I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 (Ex 22:25; Lev 25:36) So I contemplated about this for myself and,
as a result, I rebuked the nobles and officials and said to them,
"Based on the claim of each against his brother, you are exacting usury."
Then I convened a great assembly against them,
8 (Lev 25:47-49) and I said to them, "By whatever means we had,
we purchased our Jewish countrymen who were being sold to the nations.
So, will you once more sell your countrymen so that they might again be
sold to us?" Then they kept silent, because they found nothing to answer.
9 (Lev 25:36; 2Sa 12:14) Also I said, "What you are doing is not good!
Should not you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach
of the nations, our enemies?
10 Moreover, I, my relatives, and my servants are loaning them money
and grain. So, I urge you, cease from this practice of usury.
11 (Isa 58:6) Please restore to them, even this day, their fields,
their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses,
along with a hundredth part of the money, the grain, the wine,
and the oil that you had exacted from them."
12 (Ezr 10:5) Then they said, "We will restore it and will require
nothing of them. We will do what you have said."
Then I called the priests and made them swear an oath to keep this promise.
13 (Ac 18:6; 1Ch 16:36) Also I shook out the front of my garment and said,
"Like this, may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor
who does not carry out this promise. Exactly like this, may he be shaken out
and emptied."
And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.
And the people did according to this promise.
Nehemiah's Generosity
14 (Ne 13:6; 2:1) Moreover from the time that I was appointed
to be their governor in the land of Judah
(from the twentieth year even until the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes)
twelve years had passed. And my companions and I had not eaten
the governor's food allotment.
15 (Ne 5:9; Job 31:23) The former governors preceding me had extracted
a heavy burden on the people, because they took from them food and wine,
besides forty shekels
[About 1 pound, or 460 grams.] of silver. Moreover, even their servants
domineered over the people. But I myself never did so, because of the fear
of God.
16 Furthermore, I stayed determined in the work on this wall.
We bought no field, and all my servants were gathered there for the sake
of the work.
17 (1Ki 18:19; 2Sa 9:7) Moreover there were regularly at my table 150 Jews
and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.
18 (1Ki 4:22-23) Daily there were one ox and six choice sheep prepared for me.
Fowls were also prepared for me. Once in ten days all sorts of wine were
supplied in abundance. Yet for all this, I never required the governor's
food allotment because it was a heavy burden on this people.
19 (Ne 13:14; 13:22) Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all
that I have done for this people.
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 September 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/09/25/god-knows-we-feel
Entitled God Knows We Feel
Psalms 42
Psalms 42
For the Music Director. A Contemplative Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants after the water brooks,
so my soul pants after You, O God.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When will I come and appear before God?
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they always say to me,
"Where is your God?"
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I would travel with the throng of people;
I proceeded with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and thanks,
with a multitude making a pilgrimage.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted in me?
Hope in God,
for I will yet thank Him
for the help of His presence.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
therefore I will remember You
from the land of Jordan,
and of the Hermon, from the hill of Mizar.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Deep calls to deep
at the noise of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and Your billows
passed over me.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness
in the daytime,
and in the night His song will be with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I will say to God, my rock,
"Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?"
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) With shattering in my bones,
those harassing me reproach me,
when they say to me every day,
"Where is your God?"
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Why, my soul, are you cast down?
Why do you groan within me?
Wait for God;
I will yet thank Him,
For He is my deliverance and my God.
Feeling overwhelmed, Sierra grieved her son's fight with addiction.
"I feel bad," she said. "Does God think I have no faith because
I can't stop crying when I'm praying?"
"I don't know what God thinks," I said. "But I know He can handle
real emotions. It's not like He doesn't know we feel."
I prayed and shed tears with Sierra as we pleaded for her son's deliverance.
Scripture contains many examples of people wrestling
with God while struggling. The writer of Psalm 42 expresses a deep longing
to experience the peace of God's constant and powerful presence.
He acknowledges his tears and his depression over the grief he's endured.
His inner turmoil ebbs and flows with confident praises, as he reminds
himself of God's faithfulness. Encouraging his "soul," the psalmist writes,
"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God"
(v. 11). He's tugged back and forth between what he knows to be true about God
and the undeniable reality of his overwhelming emotions.
God designed us in His image and with emotions. Our tears for others reveal
deep love and compassion, not necessarily a lack of faith.
We can approach God with raw wounds or old scars because He knows we feel.
Each prayer, whether silent, sobbed, or shouted with confidence,
demonstrates our trust in His promise to hear and care for us.
By: Xochitl Dixon
Reflect & Pray
What emotion have you tried to hide from God?
Why is it often hard to be honest with God about difficult
or overwhelming emotions?
Unchanging Father, thank You for assuring me that You know I feel
and need to process my ever-changing emotions.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 7 - The Cost of Widsom
Proverbs 4:4,7
Proverbs 4
4 (Pr 7:2; Eph 6:4) He also taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart retain my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
...
7 (Mt 13:44–46) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom.
And with all your getting, get understanding. "
Establishing priorities is a popular topic of conversation in our
generation. We carry appointment calendars and attend goal-setting
strategy seminars. We let machines answer our telephones so that
we won't miss any important messages, or so that we can screen calls
before we answer them. We order our lives so that we can "get ahead".
"Getting ahead" in God's kingdom, however, involves other priorities
than the ones we may set for ourselves. "Wisdom is supreme," the
principal thing, says Proverbs 4:7, "Get wisdom. Though it cost
all you have, get understanding."
Wisdom is defined as "an understanding of what is true, right, or lasting."
Biblical wisdom is not merely the accumulation of facts about God and his
teaching, but the application of those truths of life, taking on
the character of God as we mature in the image of Christ.
Such wisdom may, indeed, come at great cost. Jesus calls us to "lay
down our lives" to folow him - perhaps not literally to die, but to die
to self-centered priorities, to allow the Holy Spirit to establish
his value system in us.
"Keep my commandments and you will live," Proverbs 4:4 says. Real life -
rich, fulfilling, significant, abundant life - comes only through union
with God. The success offered by the world, the acclaim of others, material
prosperity and convenience cannot satisfy us once we have tasted
the joy of life with God in Christ.
Application
a) What does "getting wisdom" means to me?
b) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on the priorities and values of the Lord?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Mark 4:20-25
20 (Mk 4:8; Jn 15:4–5) "Still others are seed sown on good ground,
those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit:
thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much."
A Light Under a Basket
Lk 8:16–18
21 (Mt 5:15; Lk 8:16) He said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put
under a basket or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 (Lk 8:17) For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed;
neither is anything kept secret except to be proclaimed.
23 (Mk 4:9; Mt 11:15)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 (Mt 7:2) He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.
The measure you give will be measured for you,
and to you who hear will more be given.
25 (Mt 13:12; Lk 8:18) For to him who has will more be given.
And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 (Heb 6:20; 1:2–3) Since then we have a great High Priest
Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to our confession.
15 (2Co 5:21; Jn 8:46) For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but One who was in every sense tempted like we are, yet without sin.
16 (Eph 3:12; Php 4:6–7) Let us then come with confidence
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truto.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 25 of the Month
a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(Acts 2: 41,47b
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
)
b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
( Prov 11:1
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His favour.
Pray to the Lord "Unchanging Father, thank You for assuring me that
You know I feel and need to process my ever-changing emotions."
Pray to the Lord and seek His wisdom .
Pray to the Lord and god and fruitful witness for Him .
Pray to the Lord and seek Him when you face temptation.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have God's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
Pray that believers who have been kicked out
of their communities in Mexico will remain strong in faith.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
Nehemiah 1 - 5
Nehemiah 1
The Prayer of Nehemiah
1 (Ne 10:1; Zec 7:1) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hakaliah.
In the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the palace,
2 (Ne 7:2) Hanani, one of my relatives, and some men of Judah arrived. So I
asked them concerning the returning Jews who had been in captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
3 (Ne 2:17; 2Ki 25:10; Ne 2:3) They said to me, "The remnant that returned
from captivity is there in the province enduring great affliction
and reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem remains broken down,
and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 (Ne 2:4; Ezr 10:1) When I heard these words, I sat down and wept
and mourned for days. Then I fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 Ex 20:6; Dt 7:21and said:
"I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
6 (Da 9:20; 2Ch 6:40) Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open,
that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I now pray before You,
day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You.
Both my father's house and I have sinned.
7 (Ps 106:6) We have acted very corruptly against You
and have not obeyed the commandments, nor the statutes,
nor the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses.
8 (Dt 4:25-27; 28:64) "Please remember the word that You commanded
Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you behave unfaithfully, then I will scatter
you among the nations,
9 (Dt 12:5; Lev 26:39-42) but if you return to Me and keep My commandments
and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest part of the heavens,
I will gather them from there and bring them back to the place where I have
chosen to establish My name.'
10 (Dt 9:29; Ex 32:11) "Now these are Your servants and Your people,
whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
11 (Ne 1:6; 2:1O) Lord, I implore You, let Your ear be attentive
to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants
who delight to revere Your name. And let Your servant prosper this day, a
nd grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
For I was the king's cupbearer.
Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem
1 (Ezr 7:1; Ne 1:1) In the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year
of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took the wine
and gave it to the king. Never had I been upset in his presence.
2 (Pr 15:13) So the king said to me, "Why is your face troubled though
you do not seem sick? This is nothing but a troubled heart."
Then I became very much afraid
3 (Ne 1:3; Da 2:4) and said to the king, "May the king live forever!
Why should not my face be troubled when the city, the place
of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 (Ne 1:4) So the king said to me,
"What are you requesting about this matter?"
Immediately, I prayed to the God of heaven
5 and then said to the king, "If this pleases the king
and if this might be good for your servant who is before you,
then would you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs
so that I may rebuild it?"
6 (Ne 13:6; 5:14) The king, with the queen sitting beside him, said to me,
"How long would your journey be? And when will you return?"
Because it pleased the king to send me, I established a timetable for him.
7 (Ezr 7:21; 8:36) I further said to the king, "If this pleases the king,
may letters be given to me for the governors of the province
Beyond the River so that they would allow me to pass through
until I come to Judah,
8 (Ezr 7:6; Ne 7:2) as well as a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's
forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates
of the temple mount, for the city wall, and for the house into
which I will enter." The king granted me these things, because the good hand
of my God was upon me.
9 (Ezr 8:22) When I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River,
I gave them the king's letters. He also sent with me commanders of foot
and horse soldiers.
10 (Ne 2:19; 4:7) When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite
subordinate heard this, it deeply grieved them that there was a man
coming to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
11 (Ezr 8:32) When I arrived in Jerusalem, I was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men who were with me;
I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.
There was no animal with me, except the one on which I rode.
13 (Ne 1:3; 2Ch 26:9) So I went out by night by the Valley Gate toward
the Dragon's Well and then to the Dung Gate, because I was inspecting
the Âbroken-down walls of Jerusalem and its burned gates.
14 (Ne 3:15; 2Ki 20:20) Next I passed by the Fountain Gate
and then to the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.
15 (2Sa 15:23; Jn 18:1) By going up along the riverbed at night,
I inspected the wall. Then I turned back so that I could enter
by the Valley Gate, and then came back again.
16 The officials did not know where I went or what I did, since I had not
yet told it to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials,
or to any of the others who would do the work.
17 (Ne 1:3; Eze 5:14; Ps 44:13) Finally, I said to them, "You see the distress
that we are in, how Jerusalem is devastated and its gates are burned
with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will
no more be a reproach."
18 (2Sa 2:7) Then I told them that the hand of my God had been good to me
and also about the king's words that he had spoken to me.
And they said, "Let us rise up and build!"
So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 (Ne 6:6; 6:1-2; Ps 44:13-14) But when Sanballat the Horonite,
Tobiah the Ammonite subordinate, and Geshem the Arabian heard it,
they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said,
"What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20 (Ezr 4:3; Ne 2:4) Then answered I them and said to them,
"The God of heaven, He will enable us to prosper. Therefore we His servants
will arise and build, but you will have no portion, or right,
or memorial in Jerusalem."
Nehemiah 3
Rebuilding the Wall
1 (Ne 12:39; Jer 31:38; Ne 13:28) Then Eliashib the high priest rose up
with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate.
They sanctified it and erected its doors. From the Tower of the Hundred
to the Tower of Hananel, they sanctified the wall.
2 (Ne 7:36; Ezr 2:34) Next to him the men of Jericho built,
and next to them Zakkur the son of Imri built.
3 (Ne 12:39; 2Ch 33:14) The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate,
constructing its beams, erecting its doors, and installing locks
and bars for it.
4 (Ezr 8:33; Ne 3:21) Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah,
the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam the son of Berekiah,
the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to him Zadok the son of Baana
made repairs.
5 (2Sa 14:2; Ne 3:27) Next to them the Tekoites made repairs,
but their noblemen would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.
6 (Ne 12:39) Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah
repaired the Old Gate. They constructed its beams, erected its doors,
and installed locks and bars for it.
7 Next to them repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite
and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah,
places under the authority of the governor of the province Beyond the River.
8 (Ne 12:38; 3:31-32) Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah,
one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah,
the son of one of the apothecaries, made repairs, and they repaired Jerusalem
as far as the Broad Wall.
9 (Ne 3:12; 3:17) Next to him Rephaiah the son of Hur, commander of half
of the Jerusalem district, made repairs.
10 Next to him Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house.
Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
11 (Ne 12:38) Malkijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-Moab
repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Furnaces.
12 (Ne 3:9) Next to them Shallum the son of Hallohesh,
commander of the other half of the Jerusalem district, made repairs
along with his daughters.
13 (Ne 2:13; Jos 15:34) Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired
the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it, erected its doors, and installed locks
and bars for it, plus repaired one thousand cubits
[About 1,500 feet, or about 450 meters.] along on the wall to the Dung Gate.
14 (Jer 6:1; Ne 2:13) But the Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah the son
of Rekab, commander of the Beth Hakkerem district. He rebuilt it,
and erected its doors, and installed the locks and bars for it.
15 (Ne 12:37; Jn 9:7) Moreover, Shallun the son of Kol-Hozeh,
commander of the Mizpah district, made repairs to the Fountain Gate.
He rebuilt it, covered it, erected its doors, and installed the locks
and bars for it. He also repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's
garden as far as the steps going down from the City of David.
16 (2Ki 20:20; Ac 2:29) After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, commander of half
of the Beth Zur district, made repairs as far as the area across from the Tomb
of David plus to the constructed pool and to the house of the mighty.
17 (Jos 15:44) After him the Levites, under Rehum the son of Bani,
made repairs. Next to them HashÂabiah, commander of half of the Keilah
district, made repairs in his area.
18 After him their brothers, under Binnui the son of Henadad,
commander of the other half of the Keilah district, made repairs.
19 (2Ch 26:9) Next to them Ezer the son of Jeshua, commander of Mizpah,
made repairs to another section across from the ascent to the armory
at the corner.
20 (Ne 3:1) After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired
another section, from the corner to the door of the house of Eliashib
the high priest.
21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired
another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of it.
22 (Ne 12:28) After him the priests,
the men of the surrounding plain, made repairs.
23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house.
After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs
beside his house.
24 (Ne 3:19) After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section
from the house of Azariah as far as the corner plus the corner tower.
25 (Jer 32:2; 37:21) Palal the son of Uzai made repairs across from the corner
and to the tower protruding out of the king's upper house next
to the courtyard of the guards.
After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
26 (Ne 8:1; 11:21) The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs
from opposite the Water Gate eastward to the protruding tower.
27 (Ne 3:5) After them the Tekoites repaired another section across
from the great protruding tower as far as the wall of Ophel.
28 (2Ch 23:15; 2Ki 11:16) Up to the Horse Gate the priests made repairs
-each one across from his house.
29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired across from his house.
After him Shemaiah the son of Shekaniah, who was keeper of the East Gate,
made repairs.
30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph
repaired another section. After them Meshullam the son of Berekiah made
repairs across from his chamber.
31 (Ne 3:8; 3:32) After him Malkijah the goldsmith's son made repairs
as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants.
This was across from the Mustering Gate extending as far as the upper room
of the corner tower.
32 (Ne 3:1; 12:39) Between the upper room of the corner tower
and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Nehemiah 4
Opposition to the Rebuilding
1 (Ne 2:10; 2:19) When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall,
he became angry and was greatly irritated, and he mocked the Jews.
2 (Ezr 4:9-10; Ne 4:10) He spoke before his relatives and the army of Samaria
and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they fortifying themselves?
Will they make sacrifices? Can they complete this in a day?
Can they revive the burned-up stones out of the rubbish heaps?"
3 (Ne 2:10) Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said,
"Even what they are rebuilding, if even a fox climbed it,
that would break down their stone wall."
4 (Ps 79:12; 123:3-4) Hear, O our God, that we are despised. Turn
their reproach back upon their own head, and give them as spoil in a land
of captivity:
5 (Jer 18:23; Ps 109:14) No longer cover their iniquity nor blot out
their sin, which is before You since they have made insults
against the builders.
6 So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was solidified
up to half its height. The people had a passion for the work.
7 (Ne 2:10; 4:1) When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites,
and the Ashdodites heard how the restoration of Jerusalem's walls
was progressing and how the breaches had begun to be sealed,
it made them extremely furious.
8 (Ps 83:3-11) So they all conspired together to fight against Jerusalem
in order to cause it chaos.
9 (Ne 4:11) Nevertheless we prayed to our God, and, because of them,
we set up a watch for them day and night.
10 Judah had said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing though
there is much rubble. And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall."
11 Our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see until we have
entered in among them and slain them. Indeed, we will stop the work!"
12 When the Jews living near them came, they told us ten times,
"From every place where you turn, they will be against us."
13 (Ne 4:17-18) Therefore I set guards at the lowest positions
along the wall and just inside the wall at the unrepaired areas.
I also stationed the people by families providing them individually
their own swords, spears, and bows.
14 (Nu 14:9; 2Sa 10:12) After I looked around, I stood up
and said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people,
"Stop being terrified because of them! Remember instead that the Lord
is great and awesome. So fight for each other-and for your sons,
your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
15 (2Sa 17:14) Now when our enemies heard that this had become known to us
and that God had brought their counsel to nothing, then we all returned
to the wall, everyone to his work.
16 After that day, half of my servants did the work while the other half
handled the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Commanders were appointed
to support every house of Judah.
17 Those rebuilding the wall and those hauling the loads were working
with one hand doing the task, but with the other hand holding the weapon.
18 For the builders, everyone had his sword bound to his side,
even while rebuilding. The trumpet blower worked beside me.
19 I said to the nobles, the rulers, and to the rest of the people,
"The work is vast and over a large area. Since we are spread along the wall
far from each other,
20 (Ex 14:14; Dt 1:30) assemble to us there at the place where you hear
the trumpet sounded. Our God shall fight for us."
21 So we labored in the work with half of them holding spears
from sunrise to the rising of the stars.
22 Likewise at the same time I said to the people,
"Every man and his Âservant must lodge within Jerusalem.
By night, they may be a guard to us; by day, a laborer for the work."
23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard
who followed me took off our clothes.
Each carried his weapon, even when washing.
Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah Stops Oppression
1 (Isa 5:7) Now there was a great outcry of the people
and their wives against their fellow Jews.
2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and our daughters are many.
Therefore, let us acquire grain so that we may eat and live."
3 Others were saying, "We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards,
and houses so that we might acquire grain because of hunger."
4 (Ezr 4:13; 4:20) Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money
for the king's tribute against the value of our fields and vineyards.
5 (2Ki 4:1; Ge 37:27) Now our flesh is the same as the flesh of
our countrymen. Our children are like their children, but we are
subjugating our sons and our daughters as servants. Indeed,
some of our daughters are in bondage already, and we are powerless to do
anything because our fields and vineyards belong to others."
6 (Ex 11:8) I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 (Ex 22:25; Lev 25:36) So I contemplated about this for myself and,
as a result, I rebuked the nobles and officials and said to them,
"Based on the claim of each against his brother, you are exacting usury."
Then I convened a great assembly against them,
8 (Lev 25:47-49) and I said to them, "By whatever means we had,
we purchased our Jewish countrymen who were being sold to the nations.
So, will you once more sell your countrymen so that they might again be
sold to us?" Then they kept silent, because they found nothing to answer.
9 (Lev 25:36; 2Sa 12:14) Also I said, "What you are doing is not good!
Should not you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach
of the nations, our enemies?
10 Moreover, I, my relatives, and my servants are loaning them money
and grain. So, I urge you, cease from this practice of usury.
11 (Isa 58:6) Please restore to them, even this day, their fields,
their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses,
along with a hundredth part of the money, the grain, the wine,
and the oil that you had exacted from them."
12 (Ezr 10:5) Then they said, "We will restore it and will require
nothing of them. We will do what you have said."
Then I called the priests and made them swear an oath to keep this promise.
13 (Ac 18:6; 1Ch 16:36) Also I shook out the front of my garment and said,
"Like this, may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor
who does not carry out this promise. Exactly like this, may he be shaken out
and emptied."
And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.
And the people did according to this promise.
Nehemiah's Generosity
14 (Ne 13:6; 2:1) Moreover from the time that I was appointed
to be their governor in the land of Judah
(from the twentieth year even until the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes)
twelve years had passed. And my companions and I had not eaten
the governor's food allotment.
15 (Ne 5:9; Job 31:23) The former governors preceding me had extracted
a heavy burden on the people, because they took from them food and wine,
besides forty shekels
[About 1 pound, or 460 grams.] of silver. Moreover, even their servants
domineered over the people. But I myself never did so, because of the fear
of God.
16 Furthermore, I stayed determined in the work on this wall.
We bought no field, and all my servants were gathered there for the sake
of the work.
17 (1Ki 18:19; 2Sa 9:7) Moreover there were regularly at my table 150 Jews
and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.
18 (1Ki 4:22-23) Daily there were one ox and six choice sheep prepared for me.
Fowls were also prepared for me. Once in ten days all sorts of wine were
supplied in abundance. Yet for all this, I never required the governor's
food allotment because it was a heavy burden on this people.
19 (Ne 13:14; 13:22) Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all
that I have done for this people.
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 September 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/09/25/god-knows-we-feel
Entitled God Knows We Feel
Psalms 42
Psalms 42
For the Music Director. A Contemplative Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants after the water brooks,
so my soul pants after You, O God.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When will I come and appear before God?
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they always say to me,
"Where is your God?"
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I would travel with the throng of people;
I proceeded with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and thanks,
with a multitude making a pilgrimage.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted in me?
Hope in God,
for I will yet thank Him
for the help of His presence.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
therefore I will remember You
from the land of Jordan,
and of the Hermon, from the hill of Mizar.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Deep calls to deep
at the noise of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and Your billows
passed over me.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness
in the daytime,
and in the night His song will be with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I will say to God, my rock,
"Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?"
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) With shattering in my bones,
those harassing me reproach me,
when they say to me every day,
"Where is your God?"
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Why, my soul, are you cast down?
Why do you groan within me?
Wait for God;
I will yet thank Him,
For He is my deliverance and my God.
Feeling overwhelmed, Sierra grieved her son's fight with addiction.
"I feel bad," she said. "Does God think I have no faith because
I can't stop crying when I'm praying?"
"I don't know what God thinks," I said. "But I know He can handle
real emotions. It's not like He doesn't know we feel."
I prayed and shed tears with Sierra as we pleaded for her son's deliverance.
Scripture contains many examples of people wrestling
with God while struggling. The writer of Psalm 42 expresses a deep longing
to experience the peace of God's constant and powerful presence.
He acknowledges his tears and his depression over the grief he's endured.
His inner turmoil ebbs and flows with confident praises, as he reminds
himself of God's faithfulness. Encouraging his "soul," the psalmist writes,
"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God"
(v. 11). He's tugged back and forth between what he knows to be true about God
and the undeniable reality of his overwhelming emotions.
God designed us in His image and with emotions. Our tears for others reveal
deep love and compassion, not necessarily a lack of faith.
We can approach God with raw wounds or old scars because He knows we feel.
Each prayer, whether silent, sobbed, or shouted with confidence,
demonstrates our trust in His promise to hear and care for us.
By: Xochitl Dixon
Reflect & Pray
What emotion have you tried to hide from God?
Why is it often hard to be honest with God about difficult
or overwhelming emotions?
Unchanging Father, thank You for assuring me that You know I feel
and need to process my ever-changing emotions.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 7 - The Cost of Widsom
Proverbs 4:4,7
Proverbs 4
4 (Pr 7:2; Eph 6:4) He also taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart retain my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
...
7 (Mt 13:44–46) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom.
And with all your getting, get understanding. "
Establishing priorities is a popular topic of conversation in our
generation. We carry appointment calendars and attend goal-setting
strategy seminars. We let machines answer our telephones so that
we won't miss any important messages, or so that we can screen calls
before we answer them. We order our lives so that we can "get ahead".
"Getting ahead" in God's kingdom, however, involves other priorities
than the ones we may set for ourselves. "Wisdom is supreme," the
principal thing, says Proverbs 4:7, "Get wisdom. Though it cost
all you have, get understanding."
Wisdom is defined as "an understanding of what is true, right, or lasting."
Biblical wisdom is not merely the accumulation of facts about God and his
teaching, but the application of those truths of life, taking on
the character of God as we mature in the image of Christ.
Such wisdom may, indeed, come at great cost. Jesus calls us to "lay
down our lives" to folow him - perhaps not literally to die, but to die
to self-centered priorities, to allow the Holy Spirit to establish
his value system in us.
"Keep my commandments and you will live," Proverbs 4:4 says. Real life -
rich, fulfilling, significant, abundant life - comes only through union
with God. The success offered by the world, the acclaim of others, material
prosperity and convenience cannot satisfy us once we have tasted
the joy of life with God in Christ.
Application
a) What does "getting wisdom" means to me?
b) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on the priorities and values of the Lord?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Mark 4:20-25
20 (Mk 4:8; Jn 15:4–5) "Still others are seed sown on good ground,
those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit:
thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much."
A Light Under a Basket
Lk 8:16–18
21 (Mt 5:15; Lk 8:16) He said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put
under a basket or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 (Lk 8:17) For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed;
neither is anything kept secret except to be proclaimed.
23 (Mk 4:9; Mt 11:15)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 (Mt 7:2) He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.
The measure you give will be measured for you,
and to you who hear will more be given.
25 (Mt 13:12; Lk 8:18) For to him who has will more be given.
And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 (Heb 6:20; 1:2–3) Since then we have a great High Priest
Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to our confession.
15 (2Co 5:21; Jn 8:46) For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but One who was in every sense tempted like we are, yet without sin.
16 (Eph 3:12; Php 4:6–7) Let us then come with confidence
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truto.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 25 of the Month
a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(Acts 2: 41,47b
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
)
b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
( Prov 11:1
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His favour.
Pray to the Lord "Unchanging Father, thank You for assuring me that
You know I feel and need to process my ever-changing emotions."
Pray to the Lord and seek His wisdom .
Pray to the Lord and god and fruitful witness for Him .
Pray to the Lord and seek Him when you face temptation.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have God's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
Pray that believers who have been kicked out
of their communities in Mexico will remain strong in faith.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
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