Do you believe He is able to handle every situation in your life and help you in dealing with them? ... I DO!!! :hearts:
I'm going through some situations myself that need to remain personal, between God and me and a few others, but I know He is always there and able to help me go through them and solve problems that I need His help to solve, so my heart and spirit want to encourage your heart and spirit too in rememebering, knowing and trusting in this truth of God's heart and character, just as I was reminded by the Holy Spirit to so so today in this morning's devotion from Charles Stanley's IN TOUCH devotional magazine.
Love, Steve
The God to Whom We Pray
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Read | Nehemiah 1:1-11
What�s your view of the Lord? Do you see Him as the One who can handle all the challenges you bring before Him? Nehemiah knew God in this way. Upon hearing about Jerusalem�s destruction, he mourned, fasted, and prayed for intervention. His supplication (Neh. 1:5-11) offers a glimpse of how he viewed the Almighty.
First, the Hebrew term Yahweh refers to One who is absolute in faithfulness. Next, the title Elohim indicates infinite power and sovereignty over the universe. Finally, Adonai means �ruler over all.� Nehemiah was bringing his request before the throne with full confidence in God.
And the Lord answered his prayer in a powerful, dramatic way. As cupbearer in the palace, Nehemiah tasted food and drink first to protect King Artaxerxes from possible poisoning. For a servant in this position, to look sad was very risky (2:1), yet the terrible news disheartened him.
So the Lord worked a miracle: when the king asked what was troubling his cupbearer, Nehemiah expressed concern for the Jewish people. Instead of punishing him, Artaxerxes let him go to rebuild what had been destroyed, and even supplied the materials! God handled what seemed like an overwhelming, impossible burden for Nehemiah, and He can do the same for us.
Having the right view of the Lord will allow us to approach Him with absolute confidence. And we know that He will hear and answer our prayers (Ps. 86:7). Remember that He is absolute in faithfulness and infinite in power. Our heavenly Father is the ruler over all.
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Nehemiah has been one of my favorites ever since I did a study from a book called "Hand me Another Brick". Lots of good lessons from this man. Thanks for sharing, Steve.
The person who has been one of my favorites has been Jeremiah. �him and Nehemiah were sort of in the same time period. Speaking of �what is your view of God�, Jeremiah once told the Lord: �O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed�Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.�-(20:7, 9) Jeremiah obviously had reached a pretty low-point for him to say that. But then, the Lord delivered him, and continued to do amazing things through and for him. Jeremiah 31:3 says �The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.�
It�s amazing how when we lose our faith in God, he still has faith in us.
