Marc's QT - 8/17/05

Good Morning,

Just wanted to share my quiet time with you guys today. It was in Nehemiah 1. This is a book that I am not very familiar with, and want to know more about. The book starts off with a great prayer from Nehemiah to God. What really spoke to me was Nehemiah's brokenness and repentance before the Lord, and his compassion for the people of Judah and God's people in Jerusalem. When Nehemiah found out that his people in Jerusalem were in dire trouble and disgrace, his response was that he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for several days. I can't remember if I have ever done this for my people. Even for my own sin against God. Nehemiah then confesses and takes ownership for the sin of the people and his sin against God and asked for God's mercy and love, and for God to gather his people back if they return to Him and obey his commands. I just want to have this same heart first, for myself to return to God, but also a deep compassion for the lost, and my own family of God, and earthly family to return to God and obey His commands, and find the Lord's favor and splendor. God shows me today that he desires a brokenness and repentance, and He will always give me grace if I will turn to Him and obey his commands. What a graceful, and wonderful redeemer we have.

I can't wait to read on into Nehemiah.

love you guys,

Marc

PS: I just want to lift up Joseph for his BT last night on "Wisdom". It was really interactive and engaging, and spurred me really to seek wisdom directly from God, and no other source. It was amazing to see so many fires lit last night by God's wisdom, and the deep hunger for His understanding and wisdom was very plain to me by those who attended. My prayer is that I can lean on God more to ask people to come out to these. What a privilege it was just to be there myself.

Nehemiah 1:1-11
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 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. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'
10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king.