Today’s Reading: Psalm 83, 110 & 120

I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.
How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war! – Psalm 120:1-7

This world we live in can leave us weary and exhausted. It seems like the truth is no longer desired by our culture, and we are surrounded by lies — in the news, politics, social media, education, and in the workplace. Lines are blurred and confusion is the special for the day as someone else’s truth gets more credence than God’s truth. To be surrounded by those who wound us with their words and challenge our integrity can leave us crying out to God and longing for peace.

O God, do not be silent!
Do not be deaf.
Do not be quiet, O God.
Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies?
Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up?
They devise crafty schemes against your people;
they conspire against your precious ones.
“Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation.
We will destroy the very memory of its existence.” – Psalm 83:1-4

Would you agree that the culture we live in today is quickly destroying the cultural expectations of yesterday? The truth has been watered down and justice is quickly disappearing. Beautiful cities have become unsafe as thieves are allowed to take what they want and protestors are given space to vandalize anything in their path. The Church is spoken of with contempt, and God’s people are accused of promoting agendas that take away the freedom of those who shake their fist in the face of God.

Why are we surprised when men persecute us, lie about us, or falsely accuse us? Jesus warned his disciples that His followers would be mistreated. He told us we would be blessed when people make fun of us or lie about us or say awful things about us. His advice for us was to be happy, for great is our reward in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). When times get tough, we are encouraged by the words of King David and the words of the apostles.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. – 1 Peter 4:12-19

Lord, thank you for the encouragement we daily receive from your scriptures. Thank you for the reminder that it is a privilege to be called a Christ follower. Though this world will disappoint us, you will never fail us; though others may accuse us, you are the only One who has the right to judge us. We pray for courage to stand strong in the midst of adversity, and we pray for your Spirit to guide us each day so that we represent you well. Give us the words to say and the heart to love, even in these dark days.

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.” – Psalm 110:1

Today’s Reading: Psalm 90

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! – Psalm 90:1

Consider the man of God who first prayed these words. Moses, who was taken from his home and hidden in a basket (Exodus 2:3), called God “home”. A few years later, he was taken from the arms of his mother once more to live in the palace and become the son of Pharoah’s daughter (Exodus 2:10). As a young adult, Moses stood up for the mistreatment of his people, and Pharoah tried to kill him. So once more Moses left the home he knew and fled to the land of Midian. God gave him a wife and two sons, and the Midianites became his family.

But one day God called Moses back “home”. He had seen the affliction of His people and He chose to use Moses to rescue the Israelites from the bondage they were experiencing. He had heard the cries of His children, including Moses. He knew the heart of the man who did not have the consistent security of “home” and promised to go with him as he stepped into God’s story (Exodus 4:12).

Moses was not the perfect leader. He experienced doubt, lacked self-confidence, and battled fear, even to the point where it affected his speech. But God knew Moses’ struggles and chose him anyhow. The God of the Universe displayed His strength, showed His power, and exhibited His omnipresence to Moses as He called him to leadership.

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” – Exodus 4:9-12

This orphan came to realize that God had been the consistent presence in his life, and that God would equip him for the task before him. He found his “home” in his God, and he penned these words:

Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.
You turn people back to dust, saying,
“Return to dust, you mortals!”
For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,
as brief as a few night hours.
You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.
They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
In the morning it blooms and flourishes,
but by evening it is dry and withered. – Psalm 90:2-6

As Moses looked back over his life, he recognized the holiness of our God and compared it to the sinfulness of humanity. He saw the grace of a God who allows us a short time on earth before He takes us “home”.

We wither beneath your anger;
we are overwhelmed by your fury.
You spread out our sins before you—
our secret sins—and you see them all.
We live our lives beneath your wrath,
ending our years with a groan.
Seventy years are given to us!
Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;
soon they disappear, and we fly away.
Who can comprehend the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom. – Psalm 90:7-12

Let’s make this prayer of Moses our own. Let’s soak in the satisfaction we can only find in our God, and let’s rest in the purpose that can only be found in the eyes of our Creator. May each of us experience the approval of God, and may He make our efforts successful as we respond in obedience to the call He has placed on our lives.

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, your servants, see you work again;
let our children see your glory.
And may the Lord our God show us his approval
and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful! – Psalm 90:14-17

Today’s Reading: Psalm 45

Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet. – Psalm 45:1

This poet had been inspired by God’s Spirit to write about the coming King. This song had been placed on the heart of the lyricist, and words to describe the coming Messiah had been penned by the Spirit. The King was coming — the beautiful and magnificent promised One.

You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! – Psalm 45:2-4

Draw near to the Lord and bask in the glory of the Anointed One. Consider this morning how glorious He is as He rides out in victory. He comes to defend the truth in a world that promotes lies and deception; He comes to distribute justice to those who have been oppressed. Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. – Isaiah 11:4

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. – 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. – Psalm 45:5-8

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. – Revelation 19:11-16

The bride, a princess, looks glorious
in her golden gown.
In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever. – Psalm 45:13-17

Church, get ready for the King is coming again! What a glorious day that will be when the prophecies are fulfilled and the bridegroom makes His home among His people! Sing praise to the One who is worthy of our worship.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:1-4

Today’s Reading: Malachi 3-4

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

Not only did Malachi speak to them about their lack of sincerity, he also spoke of how unconfessed sin can stand in the way of God accepting our worship. He wants us to live out our worship with a sincere desire to please Him and to bring Him glory, not just to feel good about ourselves or to look good in the eyes of other people. This includes our relationships…

Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altars with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. – Malachi 2:13-14

These blocks to our sacrifice and worship involve loyalty. Putting God first includes the vows we made before Him, whether that’s marriage or anything else we have promised to do. God wants us to put Him first and to give Him first place in our lives. If we pour ourselves out to God, He will pour out blessings on us.

“Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. – Malachi 3:7b-12

SINCERITY — Are we going through the motions of our Christian walk or are we sincerely following Him? Our sacrifices and offerings to God are defiled when we give less than our best, less than He requires of us. He wants us to give from our heart, genuinely showing our love and faithfulness. He wants us to give in order to please Him, not to make ourselves feel good or to satisfy the minimum requirement of being a member of a congregation.

QUALITY — Are we giving our best or doing our best with what God has entrusted to us? Are we hanging on tight to this life or do we live as if everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him?

LOYALTY — Are we committed to God? Are we faithfully following through on all we have promised before God and to God? Do our priorities reflect our loyal commitment to God?

Lord, open our eyes to the areas of our lives where we are cheating you, and therefore cheating ourselves of your blessings. Lord, open the windows of heaven for us. Pour out a blessing so great we will not have enough room to take it in! Lord, bless us with your presence today and reveal where we have lost our spiritual fervor. Place in us the desires of your heart, and cause us to stir at what moves you. We love you, Lord. We want to live sincerely — everyday giving our best to you, and remaining forever committed to who you have called us to be. Everything we do, we long to do for you and not just to please ourselves. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Malachi 1-2

A QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY

Do you ever question why we have some of our traditions or why we do the same things year after year? Is it our responsibility to carry on these traditions? After God’s people returned to Jerusalem, they asked the question: “Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple’s destruction, as we have done for so many years?”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?” – Zechariah 7:3-6

A QUESTION OF SINCERITY

A question of responsibility was answered by a question of sincerity. God was exposing the heart of His people. I have to admit I feel a little exposed as well. How often do we go through the motions on a Sunday morning? Has the worship become more about what pleases us or are we sincerely offering our praise to God so that He will be pleased? How often do religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter become more about family traditions, food and gifts than about God? Has our time with God become more of a routine than a growing relationship with Christ?

The prophet Malachi also spoke of the tendency of God’s people to offer less than their best to God – to sacrifice for the sake of fulfilling a ritual instead of making a true sacrifice of the heart.

A QUESTION OF SACRIFICE

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!
But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’
You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings… – Malachi 1:6-10

Our sacrifices and offerings to God are defiled when we give less than our best. He wants us to give from our heart, genuinely showing our love and faithfulness. He wants us to give to please Him and not to please ourselves, or to satisfy the minimum requirement of being a member of a congregation.

Father God, give us a fresh passion for the rituals of our faith. May we open your word with a new desire to hear from you. May we sing your praises with a heart that is open to the moving of your Spirit. Lord, wake us up from the habit of prayer and give us a passion for sincerely calling out to you. We are ready to stop looking for the minimum requirement and start chasing after you with a sincere heart willing to love sacrificially. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 10-13

Nehemiah, now the governor of Judah, led the rest of the people in an oath to God. They had separated themselves from the pagan influences in their lives and their desire was to obey the law God had given Moses. They promised to carefully follow all of the commands, regulations and decrees of God — the One whom they were intentionally recognizing as their Lord. They made these promises:
– Not to let their children marry pagan spouses
– To honor the Sabbath
– To pay a Temple tax in order to reestablish the work of the church
– To create an active schedule for the priests
– To bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord (tithe)
– To never again neglect the Temple of their God

THEY WERE READY TO DO CHURCH!!!

They were ready for a new season in their life. They were ready to cast out the old ways of neglecting the church and ignoring God, and instead actively serve God and make the Temple the center of their culture or way of life. The leaders of Judah would live in Jerusalem and a tenth of the people would be chosen by sacred lots to establish their home within the walls of the city, while the rest of the people would establish their homes outside of the walls.

Nehemiah called for a dedication of the completed wall around Jerusalem. The ceremony included singers and instruments, while the leaders stood on top of the wall and gave thanks by forming two large choirs. There were cymbals, harps, lyres & trumpets being played as one choir headed south along the wall and the other headed north. Led by Ezra, they walked around the city and then met together at the Temple, playing and singing loudly.

Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away. – Nehemiah 12:43

THEY WERE READY TO WORSHIP GOD!

God’s people were reestablishing a new life in Jerusalem that centered around the life of the church. They brought their tithes and took joy in the work of the priests and Levites. They brought back the custom of having choir directors to lead the choirs in hymns of praise and thanksgiving, just as they had done long ago. The book of Moses was read and those who were enemies of God were sent away.

God’s people were in a good place. They were worshiping Him and passionate about the work of the church. But, as we have seen over and over again throughout the Old Testament, the celebration did not last long and the fickle hearts of the Israelites were once again distracted.

Nehemiah returned to the king of Babylon for a time and then made his way back to Jerusalem. When he arrived, he found that the people had carelessly allowed sin back into the church, and many of the Levites had returned to their work in the fields instead of working for the church. The people were working on the Sabbath and some had began to marry foreign wives again.

“Wasn’t this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin?” I demanded. “There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives. How could you even think of committing this sinful deed and acting unfaithfully toward God by marrying foreign women?” – Nehemiah 13:26-27

This passage is a good reminder to us of how we grieve the heart of God when we make promises to follow and obey Him only to go back to our past behaviors or sinful habits. It is good for us to go through a time of repentance and celebration of our salvation, but we must stay in that place. We must remain faithful to the God who asked us not to do some things and then commanded us to do other things.

May we remain genuine in our desire to serve God and consistent in living out our walk with Him. May we remain in a place of celebration and joy. Lord, give us a love for your church and a passion for the work of the church so that you can be glorified through our worship of you and through the living out of our faith. Help us to follow you with a growing passion and loyal obedience.

Today’s Reading: Joel 2-3

The day of the Lord is near,
the day when destruction comes from the Almighty.
How terrible that day will be! – Joel 1:5

Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem!
Raise the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let everyone tremble in fear
because the day of the Lord is upon us.
It is a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of thick clouds and deep blackness.
Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains,
a great and mighty army appears.
Nothing like it has been seen before
or will ever be seen again…
The Lord is at the head of the column.
He leads them with a shout.
This is his mighty army,
and they follow his orders.
The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing.
Who can possibly survive? – Joel 2:1-2,11

Joel prophesied about the Day of the Lord, describing it as terrible. The army will march in and the people will run in fear. The sun will stop shining and the stars will burn out. The Lord and His army will come to confront the evil in this world, defeating the enemy and saving the world. “The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11)

But more powerful than the judgment that is coming is the mercy and love of our God. He is calling HIs people to repentance. He longs to send them a blessing instead of a curse.

That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish. – Joel 2:12-13

“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.” – Joel 2:28-29

We serve a God of grace. When we come to him in sincere repentance, genuinely living for Him and submitting to His lordship, we experience His unmerited favor.

We serve a God of compassion. He not not only forgives us, but He also gives us His Spirit to dwell within us. This presence transforms us into the people He created us to be.

We serve a God of mercy. And where there is mercy, hope can be found. Our God is gracious and compassionate, full of mercy and love.

We serve a holy God. He sees the devastation that sin is wreaking in this world, and He will come one day to bring judgment. He will right all wrongs and renew His covenant with all of creation. Praise God, restoration will come after the judgment. He will reign in this world and in our hearts.

Lord, we thank you for this reminder of your very nature — that you are a God of grace, a God of compassion, and a God of mercy. We recognize your holiness and declare that you are good! You are greater than the evil that is so predominant in this world, and the story of your victory has already been written. Thank you for renewing us when we come to you in repentance, not just with a willingness to restore us but with a longing to extend mercy to sinners. Thank you for the gift of your spirit that daily guides us and transforms us, empowering us to walk in obedience to your Lordship.

Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.
There the day of the Lord will soon arrive.
The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will no longer shine.
The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth will shake.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a strong fortress for the people of Israel. – Joel 3:14-16

Today’s Reading: Joel 1

Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation. – Joel 1:3

This hard time that you are going through, this time of loss and mourning over what you used to have, pay attention, for this is a time you need to tell your children about and they need to tell their children. For generations, your children will have these stories to share with their children – times when the Lord has provided and brought you out of the valley of trouble. These stories of God’s provision will provide a gateway of hope for future generations, when they find themselves going through a difficult time (Hosea 2:15).

The grapevines have dried up, and the fig trees have withered. The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees – all the fruit trees – have dried up. And the people’s joy has dried up with them. – Joel 1:12

At times, everything that has sustained you and all that has given you pleasure will be taken from you. It will dry up and with it your joy. You will begin to wonder, “Is God really a merciful and loving God? Am I being punished for something?” God responds to your need for answers and confirms His identity to you. He instructs you on how to respond to this difficult time – this time of uncertainty.

Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there. – Joel 1:14

This is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of a curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before. – Joel 2:12-14

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged, BUT I WILL REMEMBER YOU…
each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life. – Psalm 42:5-8

God confirms who He is. Look back at all He has done for you over the years. REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS to you and know with confidence that He has more blessings to pour into your life.

Surely the Lord has done great things! Don’t be afraid, my people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floor will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. – Joel 2:20b-26a

God is in the middle of all of this. None of this has caught Him by surprise. REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS, and trust that He has great plans for your future; believe that your joy will not be dry forever but that you will rejoice again in how your God has provided during a difficult time. You will have a story of God’s provision and His redemption to tell your children and your children’s children.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will SHARE THE STORY of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness. – Psalm 145:4-7

Remember His faithfulness and pass the stories down from generation to generation.

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 8-9, Psalm 107 & 135

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. — Psalm 107:1-2

It is important for us to take time to think through our story and be prepared to tell it as it fits into God’s greater story. What is your before and what is your after? What journey has God brought you on and how does that affect the way you live your life today?

Over and over again in the Old Testament, a prophet would gather the people of Israel together and review their story once more. This was often at a time of confession and repentance – a time of re-entering a covenant with God. Nehemiah retells the story of God’s people in a beautiful way in chapter nine, reminding us of how wonderful and full of grace God is. Nehemiah reminded God’s people of where pride and stubborn hearts had led them in previous years; how God had forgiven them time and time again, providing for them and blessing them abundantly.

“May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you…And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.

“You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharoah…You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land!…You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.

“You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions…And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees and instructions.

“You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.

“But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands…But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf…In your great mercy, you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness…You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised their ancestors.

“They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them…Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.

“But DESPITE ALL THIS, they were disobedient and rebelled against the Lord…But in their time of trouble they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies…

“You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands…In your love, you were patient with them for many years…What a gracious and merciful God you are!… – Nehemiah 9:5-31

Then God’s people said, “In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing…” (9:38) They were recognizing that they deserved all of the punishment they had received and yet God had forgiven them over and over again. They were once more making a covenant with God – a covenant full of written promises to obey the Law of God and God’s commands.

If we were to write out our stories today, what would they say? My story would include several of the same elements of the prayer told in Nehemiah: praise and worship, recognition of God’s generosity and blessings, confession of my own tendency to be prideful and stubborn, stories of God’s forgiveness and grace, testimony of God’s provision and second chances, and promises to put God first in my life. I never want to forget what God has done for me. I want to learn from my past mistakes in order to not repeat my errors, but instead grow stronger in my walk.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: “Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him?…”

What has God commanded me to do? Have I done it? What prayers has He answered for me over the years? How has He faithfully kept His promises? May God’s faithfulness always be a reminder and a stimulant to the growth of my own faith. May time in His presence stimulate my spiritual growth much more than the caffeine in my morning coffee.

Today’s Reading: Esther 2:21-10:3

After the death of her parents, Esther was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai. When she was chosen to go to the palace, this father-figure advised her to keep her family background and nationality a secret (2:20). This would protect her from the prejudice many in Persia felt towards the Jews. As a palace official, Mordecai kept an eye on her by daily walking near the courtyard of the harem so that he could see how she was doing. When the king placed a crown on her head and declared Esther queen, she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions.

One day Mordecai overheard a plot among the guards to assassinate the king. He told Esther about it and she was able to tell the king, saving his life. If Esther’s story ended here, we could already see the evidence of God strategically placing her in a position to make a difference.

GOD’S BLESSINGS WERE EVIDENT IN ESTHER’S LIFE, DESPITE HER LOCATION; HIS PROVISION WAS EVIDENT, DESPITE HER CIRCUMSTANCES.

Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect…

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes. — Esther 3:1-6

Haman began to conspire not only to destroy Mordecai, but to rid Persia of all of the Jews. Haman managed to convince the king that it was not in the king’s best interest to let this race of people live. Lots were cast to determine the day on which the Jews could be annihilated. These lots were called “purim” and were similar to what we think of as dice. This is where the Festival of Purim received its name – a time to remember the day intended for destruction but instead marked by God’s rescue of His people once again.

Consider with me the similarities between Esther and Nehemiah. Nehemiah was an exiled Jew living as a servant or slave to the king. His role as cupbearer became a blessing as Nehemiah was strategically positioned to be near the King to request a favor for his people. In the same way, the misfortune of Esther to be taken from her home and placed in the palace had become a blessing as she became queen and was strategically positioned to be near the King, giving her the opportunity to request protection for her people.

God intervened on Nehemiah’s behalf and the king noticed that he was distraught. God intervened on Esther’s behalf and the king noticed her standing in the inner court. He welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her so that she could approach his throne.

Nehemiah saw a need, prayed for the need, and then allowed himself to be part of the answer to that prayer. He allowed himself to be used by God. Esther saw a need, feared for her life and yet boldly stepped into the equation, allowing herself to become part of the solution.

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made the queen for just such a time as this?”

Then Esther set this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in and see the king. If I must die, I must die.” – Esther 4:13-16

When faced with opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah appointed half of the men to work on the wall while half stood armed with swords against the attack. In the same way, God’s people lifted prayers on behalf of Esther while she worked on protecting or rescuing them. She put herself in harm’s way but not until she knew that her family was covering her in prayer, calling on God to bless her efforts and use this royal position as an opportunity to reverse the decree, allowing the Jewish people to live.

There are days and opportunities when God strategically positions us to be used by Him. There are also times in which God gives us the responsibility to pray for someone else. There may be times in which we feel sorry for ourselves, wishing that we were not in a situation or place. Then what once seemed like an unfortunate coincidence becomes a God-placed miracle, and we find ourselves strategically positioned to be used by Him.

Will we see our situation today as Esther did? Will we accept our calling “for such a time as this”? Will we boldly step into the equation and allow ourselves to be part of the solution? Perhaps our role today is to enter into the presence of our King, as Esther did. Perhaps it is our role today to stand “with sword in hand” and pray for God’s protection. Maybe God is calling us to take an unfortunate situation and make it an opportunity for His power to be displayed. Let’s be ready to respond today in obedience the moment God calls us into action — for such a time as this.