THE STORY OF JESUS: Nehemiah 1-3
“I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king.” (Nehemiah 2:4-5)
I like how Nehemiah speaks to both kings at the same time.
He talks to God, and he answers king Artaxerxes.
He acts in both the realm of Spirit, and the realm of man.
Which, properly speaking should always overlap.
We were made to live in THIS world with God as our helper.
Life cannot be separated into spiritual vs. practical, worldly matters.
Everything and everyone we engage with is connected to God.
I sense the Lord pressing in to how I tend to separate them.
Either I work at something, or I pray about something.
Or I work first, then pray, sometimes as a last resort.
Some people see prayer as our only work, but God designed us for both.
As St. Benedict said, ‘ora et labora’, which means pray AND work.
Pray as I visit, as I study, as I build, as I parent, as I lead.
This is God’s kingdom restored, heaven and earth reunited as a team again!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You’ve invited me to join with Your work in the world. You’ve offered me Your strength and support to live my life with You, like You, for You. Help me not to forget about You as I do my work each day.
Knowing and Doing.
Word and Deed.
Praying to the Lord knowing His requirements for daily living – Loving God and man. Knowing the Word – the Law – the Promises – and standing upon those promises and praying those promises – for the people – His people. And when living for Jesus we are never alone. God’s Spirit leads the Way and enables to speak and do the right things. He empowers. He enables. He restores. He rebuilds. A Word and Deed ministry.
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
3
Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
4
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
5
Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.