The Everyday Prayer

I learn leadership by reading Nehemiah.  He reminds me of the priority of unity.  To acheive the purposes of God,  people must work together.  Paul understood the same principle.  “Only conduct yourselves in a mannner worthy of the gospel of Christ. . .standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”  (Philippians 1:27)  When the inner unity of a church or a family or a Bible class breaks down, it has to be confronted.  Observe Nehemiah in chapter 5 of this week’s Re Verse reading.  He knows that disagreements must be honestly faced before God’s people can “get back to work” (the wall, remember?)   Confrontation is not a job I like.  It requires courage and prayer.  It is, however, a job that “comes with the territory” of seeking the purposes of God.  Remember Christ cleansing the temple?  Confronting Peter?  May God give us courage to face issues honestly.  It is a necessary step toward peace.

Nehemiah was a good man and a great leader.  (Re Verse assignment for this week is Nehemiah 2 and 5)  Part of his effectiveness was his passion.  He reminds me of King David–highs and lows, emotionally honest always.  In chapter 1 Nehemiah is SAD.  In chapter 5 he is ANGRY.  Rather than “stuffing” or denying these emotions, He presents himself to the Lord in prayer.  Prayer is his way to process emotions and focus them into obedience.  He becomes a guided missile.  One of the best leaders I ever knew had strong emotions.  He could be angry, he could be kind.  What made him remarkable was his steady commitment to harnass his emotions before the Lord, to give Christ control of all feelings.  I wonder, today, whether I hide my emotions rather than admit them to Christ and submit them to Christ.  More to follow this week.  What I know today is that Nehemiah was a passionate and effective man.

The Bible has a bias towards builders.  Noah builds a boat.  Solomon builds a temple.  The Lord, Himself, was a carpenter.  No suprise that we conclude our study of the Old Testament with a focus on Nehemiah who rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2 and 5)  Years later he is still “at it”, rebuilding a just Jewish society.   Are we builders?  I know it is easier to complain, but is sideline-criticism a godly choice?  Are we committed to building a church?  A sunday school class?  A family?  A business?  Isaiah prophesied the coming of a group of people who, by the power of the Spirit, would rebuild.  “And the Lord will continually guide you. . .And you will be like a watered garden. . .And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins. . . . you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell”  (Isaiah 58:11-12)  Are we builders?  I am praying for you as you read and reflect this week.  Don

“Speaking the truth in love, let us grow up into Him who is the head”  (Ephesians 4:15 )  Have you seen the movie “The Help”?  Holly and I went on Friday.  It is an inspiring story of black maids in the 1960’s South who were willing to speak about their experiences despite the negative reaction that was sure to come from such honesty.  Abelene, the main character, finally found courage to do what was right as she listened to a sermon.  (Lord, make me such a preacher!)  She reminded me of Esther–moving forward on moral certainty alone, having no other hope than the help of God.  Have you reached the point where you are willing to do the same?   As you enter the presence of the King, are you prepared to speak the truth and ask for the highest good, without fear of what others will do or say?   Father, make us like Abelene.  Like Esther.  Like Jesus.  I will see you in a few hours at worship.  My love to you, dear friend.  Don

“For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. . .I do not know which to choose.”  (Phil. 1:21-22)  The Apostle Paul and Queen Esther had arrived at the same place– a calm heart in the face of death.  “If I perish, I perish” were her words.  It was a possibility that she could not control and would not worry about.  She would concentrate on doing what was right and leave the outcome to God.  Most of us would greatly benefit from a similar release.  The Bible speaks of people who “through fear of death are subject to slavery all their lives”  (Hebrews 2:15)  It is tragic, being so afraid of death that we are afraid to live.  Friend, as you pray today, will you surrender to the Lord the length of life?  Will you leave the decision in His hands and find the strength that comes as “daily bread”?  Never finding life is far worse than dying.  Ask Esther.

“In every province there was GREAT MOURNING among the Jews. . .MANY lay in sackcloth and ashes.”  (Esther 4:3)  It is both painful and necessary for us to become desperate.  Complacent people don’t make spiritual progress.  God would rather us be cold than luke-warm.  Cold hearts at least realize the spiritual distance/danger.   Stripping away the support systems of life and exposing us to danger it is an act of  God’s grace.  Whether as a nation or a church or a family or an individual, the first step toward progress is to realize the seriousness of our situation.  Desperate people cry out to God!  “I waited patiently on the Lord and He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the mire and the mud. . .and put a new song in my mouth”  (Psalm 40:1-4)  Dear friend, are you desperate today? Do you allow yourself to feel/know the danger that is near?  It is the first step toward deliverance.

“Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my maidens also will fast in the same way.  And thus I will go in to the king”  (Esther 4:16)  The Esther story touches a familiar truth from God’s word.  People who serve God need the prayers of others for support and strength.  Esther requests others to fast.   She means prayer, I think.  Paul says prayer outright.  “Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given me”  (Ephesians 6:19).  Jesus felt the need for the prayer support of His friends.  Daniel too.  As Sunday draws near, will you take time to pray for me as I preach?  Will you pray for others who are making decisions (good and bad) which will impact the Kingdom of Christ?  Pray for courage!  Pray for clarity!  Pray for conviction!  Consider– others will have what they need for service to Christ, if you will ask God on their behalf.

(Re Verse reading this week–Esther 4.)  Esther faced a dilemma we know well– remain silent or speak up,  seek safety or get involved.  It is always a costly choice.  We may not face death (a real possibility for her).  It will cost us our time and our energy, our comfort and sometimes our friendships.  Thank God for the Mordecais of the world who challenge us to something higher than safety and self.     Sunday is a Dedication Day for us at FBC (and for those who watch/follow around the nation and world)  We will rejoice in the Re Verse Study System and dedicate ourselves to a new year of spiritual power that comes from reading His word in unity.  Question–Isn’t God’s purpose for us to SPEAK what we learn to others?  Mordecai’s challenge hangs in my heart.  “If you remain silent. . .you and your family will perish”  May God give us courage in these crisis/opportunity days.

It is a matter of stewardship–recognizing that what God gives me (talent, health, opportunity, friendship) is not for selfish purpose but for service.  “Who knows whether you have attained to royalty for such a time as this” says Mordecai to Esther. (Esther 4:14)  He begs her to consider the underlying purpose of God in the events of her life.(including the tragedies).  Her status and station are for something.  Do we ever stop to view our own lives through the same filter?  Is life just a succession of coincidences?  Or, has God given us “talents” (cf Matt 25) and experiences that give unique opportunities for Kingdom service?  “I am a debtor” said the Apostle Paul in the classic New Testament expression of this idea.  What God has given me is a “gift” that I am obligated to “use”.  What would life be like, how would we pray, if we felt the same?

This week, we will be reading the story of Esther.  It will be rich reflection for followers of Christ.   While the book never mentions God (a fact that caused great consternation for the Reformers), it points to his presence and providence in the events and choices of Esther’s life.  The Jews still celebrate this story and call it Purim.  The Persian word for dice(singular) is pur. “Dice day” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the roll of the dice that “determined” when the Jews would be destroyed, when God was actually protecting and guiding the whole situation.  Do you believe in chance?  Do you believe that WHO you are and WHEN you are have been determined by blind force and circumstance?  Or, do you believe that behind all things, even the ones that seem tragic, God is at work, expecting from you the choices of faith?  More on this as the week progresses.  I will be praying for you.  Don