Surrender is Quickly Implemented by One being Led by God, Part 2

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:17-18

Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach." I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the good work.

Insights: Yesterday we observed Nehemiah’s surrender to God’s will and looked at his speech to the city council.  Today, let’s investigate the manner in which he motivated the people with his speech.  There are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic.  The vast majority of the time we use extrinsic motivation.  In other word, we tell our children if they do __________ (fill in the blank), then they will get __________ (fill in the blank).  This kind of instruction is extrinsic motivation.  We do the same thing in the church.  If you come to this Bible study, we will feed you dinner.  Yesterday I quoted Chuck Swindoll regarding these verses.  Let me quote him again.  He wrote, “Nehemiah did not promise any material incentives when he addressed the Jerusalem officials. He didn't offer prizes to the fastest-working families or a week at the Dead Sea for the group doing the most attractive work. He didn't stoop to that kind of motivation—but many churches do. We give children prizes for bringing their friends to church, memorizing Bible verses, or having a perfect attendance record. That might work with kids for a while, but something is wrong when it has to continue (emphasis mine).” Here is the problem churches so often run into with extrinsic motivation:  whatever it took to get them to the church is what is needed to often times retain them in the church.  Think about Jesus’ motivational message for church growth found in Luke 9:23, “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”  Talk about some intrinsic motivation—come follow me and die!  In fact Jesus’ church growth model almost always seemed to be in contradiction to our modern day programs.  When His crowds got to large, He would tell them to eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:53).  Beloved, we need to obey the Lord because we love Him, not for what we get out of it.  Nehemiah’s motivating message was completely intrinsic in nature.  And how did the people respond, “Let us arise and build.”  Let’s build, Beloved!

Questions:

1. When you influence people, what kind of motivation do you typically use?
2. What kind motivates you to surrender to obedience?

Prayer: Father, let Your love for me be the greatest of motivations in my life.  I desire for You to be glorified because of my service to You.  Amen.

Surrender is Quickly Implemented by One being Led by God, Part 1

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:17-18

Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach." I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the good work.

Insights: Nehemiah had spent time in solitude with God and allowed Him to put thoughts into his mind.  Now, it was time for the city council meeting.  Notice three very important words used in verse seventeen: we, us, we.  Keep in mind that Nehemiah had been living in the palace of the king, he personally had not created the situation in which the Jews in Jerusalem were living, and he was, in many ways, an outsider.  Yet he came in an identified with the people and the need of the people.  Chuck Swindoll wrote regarding this verse, “When you cast blame and criticism, you squelch motivation. When you identify with the problem, you encourage motivation. But even though Nehemiah identified with the people and was personally concerned about the problem, he did not try to hide the hard facts. He did not plead or threaten; nor was he negative in his approach. He simply said, ‘We've got to do something about this problem. Let's rebuild the wall.’”  When we walk into a situation that has gone badly we are either blamers and criticizers or we are come-along-siders and encouragers.  Encouragers quickly identify themselves with the problem and work alongside the people to fix the situation.  Nehemiah was obviously a part of the latter group of people.  As soon as he heard God’s will he surrendered quickly and said, “Let US rebuild this wall.”  Tomorrow we are going to look at the manner in which Nehemiah motivated the people as well as the people’s response.  Are the people going to surrender to God’s will?  Are they going to blame someone else for their troubles?  Are they going to get to work and rebuild?  Come back tomorrow and find out.

Questions:

1. Are you a blamer and criticizer?
2. Are you a come-along-sider and encourager?

Prayer: Father, it is within us all to respond to things in a negative and critical fashion.  Help my heart to not respond in such a way.  Rather, Lord, let me be an encourager to people.  Amen.

Solitude is the Quintessential Ingredient to be Led by God, Part 2

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:13-16

So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass. So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

Insights: In today’s verses Nehemiah told us two times he inspected the damage of the wall.  The Hebrew word used for inspect literally means “to look into something very carefully.”  It is actually a medical term describing a physician probing a wound to see the extent of the damage.  Remember in this study we are building a spiritual wall of faith with bricks of character.  In the very first week I asked you to allow the Lord to examine the condition of your spiritual wall.  Once again, I ask you to allow God to examine your spiritual wall with the eyes of a surgeon and let Him reveal to you any wicked way of which needs to be repented.  Going back to our text, we learned yesterday that God had placed some things on Nehemiah’s mind regarding the wall and Jerusalem.  Now, still in solitude, he was being directed by God to go and see firsthand the extent of the damage.  All of the groundwork for this major renovation was being accomplished in the silence of solitude between Nehemiah and the Lord God.  In Augustine’s Confessions he wrote about mankind’s desire to experience on his own “flashes of insight and sudden glimpses of God’s glory,” instead of learning how to be “content to seek and find the truth in solitude.”  I think these thoughts of Augustine’s are very true today in our Christian culture.  We want quick mount of transfiguration moments with God, but we do not want to do the hard work of walking daily with Him while carrying our cross and denying ourselves.  The reality is our true growth and dependence on God comes in the daily pilgrimage with God in our quiet times with Him and His Word, not in the sudden flashes.

Questions:

1. Are you allowing God to examine your spiritual wall in your times of solitude?
2. Would you describe your spiritual walk as one of searching for sudden glimpses of God’s glory or one of seeking and finding the truth in solitude?

Prayer: Father, search my heart and reveal to me any wicked way in me.  Give me the courage to repent of any transgression You reveal to me.  Let my life be satisfied in the daily journey with You.  Amen.

Solitude is the Quintessential Ingredient to be Led by God, Part 1

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:11-12

So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

Insights: Let me set the scene a little for our verses today.  Nehemiah had prayed for four months for God to move on the king’s heart.  Finally the day came and God granted Nehemiah favor with the king.  Then there was the long, arduous journey of eight-hundred miles back to Jerusalem.  Along the way, he had to stop off for supplies.  The day finally arrived in which Nehemiah pulls into Jerusalem.  One would have thought after waiting all of this time that Nehemiah would have been ready to hire the subcontractors, pull out the trowel, and start the rebuilding of the wall.  That story was not at all what Nehemiah did.  In typical fashion of this man of prayer, he went into solitude for three days.  Then on the fourth night he went out alone, with only his animal, to inspect the walls.  When it reports in this twelfth verse that a few men arose with him that does not mean they went on the inspection with him.  The helped saddle his animal and gather up the few supplies Nehemiah was going to need.  I am over emphasizing Nehemiah’s isolation because solitude is the forgotten character of a person of faith in our twenty-first century world.  Life is so incredibly fast past that we often times forget to have time with the Lord in prayer and personal Bible study.  I don’t want you to miss some very crucial words found in that twelfth verse.  Nehemiah shared with us that God put some thoughts into his mind about Jerusalem.  When do you think the Lord put those thoughts into his mind?  Do you think it happened while he was out there so busy with the things of this world?  Absolutely not!  He heard from the Lord God in his three days of silence and solitary.  Nehemiah understood how serious this job of wall building was and he also knew he was incapable of pulling this job off without the favor of God on his life.  Private time alone with God in prayer and Bible study is the most important thing we as Christ-followers do for the Lord.  It is out of those times that we are empowered and directed to accomplish His will here on earth.  Beloved, spend time ALONE with the Father!

Questions:

1. How are your quiet times with God going right now?
2. Are you equating activity with spiritual maturity?

Prayer: Father, in the busyness of life do not let me forsake my time with You.  Strengthen my heart to daily choose to love You.  Help me to truly understand the consequences of forsaken time in Your presence.  Amen.

The Principles Seen regarding Preparation

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-11

And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart." Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, "If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long will your journey be, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me. Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel. So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.

Insights: The first brick of character for our wall of faith was prayer.  The second brick is preparation.  In synopsis form, these are the truths we have learned this week.  One, changing a heart is God’s speciality.  Two, praying and waiting go hand in hand.  Three, faith is NOT a synonym for disorder or a substitute for careful planning.  Four, opposition is to be expected when God’s will is carried out.  Beloved, continue to let God build your wall of faith!

Questions:

1. How well are you handling the waiting game?
2. Are you allowing your organization to help build your faith?

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are a God of order and not chaos.  Let my life be one of preparation and follow through.  Amen.

The Progress Surrounding Nehemiah's Preparation: Proceeding for Wonderful Glory

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:9-11

Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel. So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.

Insights: Verse nine is one of my favorite verses in this chapter.  The reason is because God does something beyond Nehemiah’s expectations.  I believe God loves doing this to His children, but unfortunately we often times have a blind eye to God’s glory.  He is what I mean:  Nehemiah prepared and knew he needed letters to get through the provinces and to get lumber.  Nowhere, however, did Nehemiah ask for an army and horsemen.  In fact the verse states, “NOW THE KING had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.”  This gesture of the king takes us back to Monday’s proverb.  Artaxerxes was a like a channel of water in God’s hand and He directed him however He wished.  He blew Nehemiah’s mind with this extra blessing of receiving an army escort.  Oh Beloved, are we ready for such a blessing?  We do, however, need to keep looking through these verses.  Another truth I want you to understand is that when we are walking obediently with God, there is going to be opposition.  In verse ten we are introduced to Sanballat and Tobiah.  These two men are going to be throughout this book and in every mention of them; they are planning evil against the people of Jerusalem.  They were displeased that someone was coming to help the children of God.  One last thought, in verse eleven it mentions that Nehemiah was in Jerusalem three days.  The Bible does not tell us what Nehemiah was doing during those three days, but I think I know what he was doing.  I bet you know what he was doing as well. Every time we turn a page, Nehemiah was praying to God for something.  Now that he has actually arrived in Jerusalem, he is back on his knees asking God to continue to give him guidance.  What an amazing history of God’s love and glory!!!

Questions:

1. What wonderful thing has God done lately in your life that blew you away?
2. What opposition has presented itself to you as you have sought to obey God?

Prayer: Father, You truly do amaze me and keep me at awe of Your wonderful love and glory.  In our southern vernacular You show out on a daily basis.  Grant me the eyes to see and recognize Your majestic hand at work in my life.  Amen.

The Progress Surrounding Nehemiah’s Preparation: Planning with Wise Guidance

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:7-8

And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

Insights: In today’s verses we see Nehemiah’s expansion of his preparation plans.  Yesterday we saw the king gave him permission to be gone.  After the conversation appears to be over, Nehemiah steps back up and says (in Scott’s vernacular), “Oh, by the way king, considering you are letting me go and build the wall, do you think you could send me with some letters to the governors and to Asaph so I could get some lumber?”  I titled today’s Thoughts by Scott as Planning with Wise Guidance.  I did this because Nehemiah was only capable of thinking up all the details he was going to have to perform because God opened his mind.  We know this to be true because Nehemiah acknowledged the reason the king granted him favor and success was because God’s good hand was on him.  Think of it this way, if God had not given him the wise guidance to ask for those letters, then the first time he came to an official outside of Susa he would have been sent back.  The official would have said, “Papers?”  Nehemiah responded, “Papers, what papers, I am going to Jerusalem by faith.”  The official would have said, “Not without papers you are not,” and Nehemiah would have been sent back.  Because God, however, gave him the guidance he was able to ask for those provisions in advance.  So, what really happened when he got to that first official was, “Papers?”  Nehemiah responded, “Here they are.”  The official, “Have a nice trip.”  Beloved, before we attempt to do great things for God, we need to have God give us wise guidance and let Him plan our steps through the preparation process.

Questions:

1. Is God’s good hand presently on you?
2. For what assignment are you presently preparing in order to be obedient to God?

Prayer: Lord, let Your favor be on me.  Bless the work You have called me to and grant me the courage to faithfully obey You no matter what obstacles may come.  May You be glorified as a result of my obedience.  Amen.

The Progress Surrounding Nehemiah's Preparations: Playing the Waiting Game

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-6

And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart." Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, "If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long will your journey be, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time.

Insights: Notice verse one picked the history up in the month of Nisan, which is the equivalence to our April.  Back in chapter one, however, the month was Chislev, this is the equivalence to our December.  So, for four months Nehemiah has been praying for God to grant him favor with the king.  Notice that he had not been downcast this entire time, but for some reason Nehemiah had a blue Monday and the king asked him about it.  In his honesty and vulnerability, Nehemiah told us he was very much afraid.  He was afraid, because he could have lost his life for raining on the king’s parade, but God had answered his request.  Please notice the key phrase right after the king’s question regarding Nehemiah’s desires.  Nehemiah said, “So I prayed to the God of heaven.”  He has already received God’s blessing, but he knew he needed boldness and that God was the only One who could grant that to him.  Nehemiah made his request and the king then asked him how long he would be gone and Nehemiah gave him a definite time.  This point is crucial to the waiting game.  We don’t just wait and do nothing.  We pray and because we have faith that God is going to answer, we work and prepare for the assignment we know He has called us to.  The only reason Nehemiah could have given a definite time was because he had already prepared.

Questions:

1. Are you actually expecting your prayers to come to pass?
2. In the waiting, are you preparing and planning for what God is going to ask you to do?

Prayer: Lord, let me not become discouraged in the waiting.  Rather, give me the heart to continue praying and planning for Your will to be done.  Amen.

A Preliminary Statement about Preparation

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Insights: Have you ever tried to change a person, whether that is their behavior or attitude?  In the words of Dr. Phil, “How’s that working for you?”  I know, because I have tried so often in my life to change those around me, it is not working for you.  Hudson Taylor, the father of modern missions, said, “It is possible to move men through God by prayer alone.”  What a powerful statement Taylor spoke.  This week we are going to be looking at the subject of preparation as a needed part to our character as we build this wall of faith.  Before we actually look at the verses from Nehemiah for this week we need to understand some truths about God’s sovereignty as it relates to changing people.  Notice the proverb in today’s verse.  The whole point of that particular proverb is to declare God is sovereign.  In other words, even a king over an empire is nothing but channels of water in the Lord’s hand.  He moves and directs such a monarch as He wishes and pleases to bring about His good will.  As you will recall from last Friday, Nehemiah’s prayer was for God to grant him favor before king Artaxerxes.  Remember that Artaxerxes was king over the Medes and the Persians.  There was an ancient saying in those days that went like this, “Don’t try to change it.  It’s like the law of the Medes and Persians.”  You may recall the story of Esther in which the king made a decree and later in the book he tells Esther that he can’t revoke what he had written.  The king in the book of Esther was Xerxes, also known as Ahasuerus.  He was a Medo-Persian king and he was bound by his very law he had written.  Well in the book of Nehemiah, we see another Medo-Persian king, and he is also a tuff nut to crack.  He can’t be changed by human methods of coercion, but by the method Hudson Taylor declared so boldly, even this king would be changed.  God as the sovereign over all His creation can move in the hearts of believers and non-believers to bring about His glory.  Beloved, we need to trust Him and intercede on behalf of those needing a heart change.

Questions:

1. Are you trying to change people yourself?
2. Do you trust God as the Sovereign Lord over all creation?

Prayer: Lord, You are creator and sovereign over all.  Humble me to recognize my inability to change the heart of any person—that  wayward loved one, the grumpy coworker, the overbearing boss are beyond my capabilities to change.  So, Lord Jesus, I put them in Your hands and ask for You to draw on their hearts and bring about the change You desire in them.  May Your work in their lives bring You glory.  Amen.

An Honoring from God

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:11

"O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man." Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Insights: The first brick of character we have been learning about all week is prayer.  A person of faith is going to be a prayer warrior.  On this final day this week we are going to see the four blessings God honors us with as a result of being people of prayer.  First, prayer makes you wait.  We, as people, are so quick to jump ahead and fight or run away from the minutest things.  Yet throughout Scripture, the first thing God wants us to do is stop, seek Him, and wait for His response.  Prayer does just that for us.  It helps us leave the situation with God.  Second, prayer clears your vision.  Just like the sun burns away the morning fog, so prayer burns away confusion.  When we go to the Father our perspective to the situation is better.  We are not so rash in our judgments because we begin to see things as He sees them.  This clearer vision changes everything.  Third, prayer quiets your heart.  In other words, it is impossible to worry and pray at the same time.  Prayer calms your spirit and replaces anxiety with peace.  How often are we like Martha and fret over the tiniest of things (Luke 10:41)?  Jesus tells us to come to Him and yoke up with Him because His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).  Let the peace of Jesus fill you full as you run to Him in prayer.  Finally, prayer activates your faith.  Beloved, how petty, negative and critical am I when I don’t pray?  When I pray, however, I am more prone to trust God and let all those negative faith-killing emotions and thoughts flee from my mind.  Prayer sets faith on fire and motivates us to obey God.  Nehemiah was such a man that had learned these four blessings with which God honors people of prayer.  Let me encourage you to start the day in prayer and throughout it seek the Father for these four blessings.  As you live life from this perspective, may God be glorified from the wall of faith you are allowing Him to build through you with bricks of character—character  like being a person of prayer.

Questions:

1. Are you waiting on God and letting Him quiet your heart?
2. Is your vision clearer so you are more prone to respond in faith?

Prayer: Father, thank You that You allow me to enter Your presence and make request to You.  Calm my spirit and make my way straight.  Then, O Lord, give me the courage to act on what You have revealed to me and be glorified as I live by faith.  Amen. 

Humility before God: A Humble Leader Seeks God First and then is Used by Him

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:8-11

"Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.' "They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. "O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man." Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Insights: The third aspect of prayer that we observe from Nehemiah’s example is that of claiming the promises of God.  Notice that Nehemiah quotes from Leviticus twenty-six and Deuteronomy thirty in verses eight and nine.  In other words, he is going back to Scripture and reminding God of the promises He has already made.  When we are praying Scripture back to God and we are claiming His very promises to us, we do not have to question if it is the will of God.  He has already promised it through His Word.  It is for this reason we need to know what God’s Word states.  So, Beloved, spend time daily in the Bible and let God minister to your heart and increase your faith.  The final aspect of prayer modeled by Nehemiah is his actual petition before God.  This request is found in verse eleven.  He asked boldly for God to grant him compassion before the king.  There does come a point in time we must ask in faith for God to answer our prayers.  Notice, however, it was the last thing Nehemiah did, not the first.  All too often we just treat God like a jeanie in the bottle and make our request without doing the three previously mentioned parts of prayer.  How arrogant and presumptuous of us?  Nehemiah’s prayer also informs us of one last part of a person showing humility before God and that is his willingness to be used by God to meet the need.  His prayer to have favor before the king is because he has heard he is to rebuild the wall.  He wants to serve and now he needs permission.

Questions:

1. On what promises of God are you resting?
2. Do you present your requests to God in fresh faith expecting Him to respond?

Prayer: Father, thank You that You never leave me nor forsake me.  Thank You that You supply me with a peace that surpasses understanding.  Thank You that You bear my burdens when I turn them over to You.  Lord, sanctify my life and grow my faith as I strive to serve You.  Amen. 

Humility before God: A Humble Leader Seeks God First, Part 1

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:5-7

I said, "I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have sinned. "We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

Insights: When you face a problem is your normal response to try and fix it?  Most people do not seek the Lord first in the problem solving plan.  In fact, more often than not, God is their last resort.  This statement, however, was not true of Nehemiah.  After he was presented with the information the very first place he turned was to the Lord.  For all practical purposes the remainder of the chapter is Nehemiah’s prayer to God.  The first aspect of prayer we can learn from Nehemiah is concerned with praise to God.  Notice how he addressed God in verse five.  He exalted the Lord and told Him how awesome He was.  Nehemiah also referenced God’s loving kindness.  Think about it this way: Nehemiah’s boss was the king and he was pretty powerful, but compared to God, Artaxerxes was nothing.  The second aspect of Nehemiah’s prayer dealt with confessing sin.  Verses six and seven tell us of the sin of Israel as well as Nehemiah’s own sin in the process.  They as a people had disobeyed God’s commandments, statutes, and ordinances.  It is interesting that Nehemiah threw himself into the midst of the problem.  The normal human response is typically to point the blame elsewhere, but not for Nehemiah.  Tomorrow we will look at the next two aspects about prayer which Nehemiah’s pray models for us.  Until then, Beloved, let me encourage you to begin now going to the Lord with your problems.  Let Him be your first thing and allow Him to examine your heart and reveal the truth of the situation to you.  May your response to Him bring glory to His name.

Questions:

1. Are you taking your problem to the Lord first?
2. Are you open to recognizing your part in the problem and repenting of it before God?

Prayer: Father, You are the One true God and awesome in power and might.  Examine my heart and reveal to me any wicked way.  Then Lord, give me the courage to truly repent and seek hard after You.  Amen. 

Humility before God: A Humble Leader has a Clear Recognition of the Needs and is Personally Concerned about Them

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:3-4

They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire."  When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Insights: Nehemiah, this palace dweller, could have easily been preoccupied with his life and the comforts his life offered him.  If he had desired he could have been content to live in his own little dream world.  He, however, asked those two questions we looked at yesterday.  As a result, he had a clear understanding of the needs in Jerusalem.  Beloved, let me caution you here.  There are a lot of people in this world that are great need finders or problem stirrers.  It is like a full time job to them to be wrapped up with the information surrounding the most recent calamity in life.  This garbage dump mentality is just as wrong as the pie in the sky dreamer who never wants to acknowledge the needs and problems pervading his/her life.  The world is full of need recognizers, but for too many that is where it stops.  A humble leader like Nehemiah, however, goes on to the next step and becomes personally concerned about those needs.  We know Nehemiah was personally concerned because of his response to those needs in verse four.  He sat down, he wept, he mourned for days, he fasted and he prayed.  He did not do the normal thing and begin playing the blame game.  He did not seek out to know whose fault it was that the people were in such distress and reproach.  He did not form a lynch mob to find the person who ought to have built the wall by now.  He was personally vested now and desired to be a part of the solution.  Tomorrow we are going to specifically start looking at Nehemiah’s prayer, but before then, let me make a few comments regarding that “f” word we Baptist don’t like to use.  The only One truly capable of solving the needs in our lives is the Lord God.  Part of our spiritual disciplines that draws us deeper into our love relationship with Him is fasting, that “f” word.  A lot of times we fast when the situation is dire, and that is good, but I would encourage you to make fasting a part of your life on a more regular basis.  Fasting zeros in on our walk with God and the true condition of our heart. 

Questions:

1. Are you aware of the needs around you?
2. Are you personally concerned about those needs?

Prayer: Father, like yesterday, so often I am aware of the needs, but fail to be personally concerned about them.  Forgive me for my indifference.  Continue to soften and make my heart one that desires You and Your will.  Amen. 

A Heart for God

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-3

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire."

Insights: Leaders are always faced with “impossible” circumstances and tasks.  Nehemiah was 800 miles from Jerusalem and serving under a non-believing king as cupbearer.  He, however, had a heart for the things of God and desired to see the wall rebuilt for the protection of the people.  We know Nehemiah has this heart because of the two questions he asked his biological brother, Hanani.  He wanted to know how the people in Jerusalem were doing and the condition of the city.  Hanani told him the people were in great distress and reproach.  The Hebrew word for great distress means “misery” or “calamity.”  These people’s lives are horrible beyond recognition.  The Hebrew word for reproach means “sharp, cutting, penetrating, or piercing.”  The surrounding nations were assaulting the people with critical and slanderous words intent on doing the people harm.  Nehemiah was the cupbearer.  He could have closed his eyes toward the situation, but he refused to do so.  How many times do we as people pretend the evils of this world do not really exist?  We see the down and out and justify our unwillingness to give assistance.  Beloved, I don’t know about you, but as for me, it occurs way too often.  It did not matter that Nehemiah was safe and comfortable living in the palace.  His heart was for the things about which God’s heart was concerned—the people and Jerusalem.  Be very careful as you pursue the successes of this world to not forget what God would have you to do while on this side of eternity.  His heart is sensitive to the needs of others and we are His tools to meet those needs.  So, I encourage you today to spend some extra time with the Father and ask Him if your priorities are right.  Are these priorities set on the things about which He cares or are they on your personal desires.  I will tell you, Beloved, there are times it is very hard to have a heart for the things of God, but we are commanded to do so.

Questions:

1. To what is your heart drawn?
2. Is your heart tender toward the things of God even when it is hard?

Prayer: Father, so often I pursue my heart’s desires and not Yours.  Forgive me when I do forsake You for self.  Transform my heart to be tender toward You and the pursuits You wish for me to undertake.  Amen. 

The Walls of Our Lives, Part 2

Scripture: Isaiah 49:15-16

"Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

Insights: Yesterday I mentioned that the walls mentioned in Isaiah 49:16 are referring to the walls in Jerusalem.  I am, however, taking them figuratively as spiritual walls of our lives.  Today we are going to take Nehemiah’s three roles and apply them to our spiritual walls and see what must be done.  As a cupbearer Nehemiah inquired of the Lord to see what must be done.  He knew that God was the only One that could truly determine the true state of things.  As a builder Nehemiah inspected the walls to evaluate what God had revealed to him regarding his assignment.  As governor Nehemiah influenced the people to grab hold of a vision for the future.  So, what does this have to do with our spiritual wall?  We need to come to the Lord and inquire of Him as to what must be done in our lives.  We then need to inspect our spiritual walls honestly and determine what needs to be repaired.  Finally, we need to influence those around us to see the vision for which the Lord has called us to serve Him.  Beloved, the reality is most professing Christians have walls that are lying in ruin or neglect.  It probably happened slowly in their lives.  First a crack, not having a quiet time, appeared, but they did nothing about it.  Then it grew to a piece of loose stone or mortar, they told a lie, but they still did nothing about it.  Next a piece broke of, they started missing worship services, but they still did nothing about it.  Finally, entire sections of the wall fell down, they had no sense of the Lord’s presence, but they still did nothing about it.  At this point, the enemy, Satan, had access behind their lines and was able to wreak havoc in their lives.  You may even be known as a good Christian in the community, but you know in your heart that your spiritual wall that protects and defends you is lying in shambles.  As Chuck Swindoll wrote, “Such things as selfishness, lack of discipline, procrastination, immorality, no time for God, compromise, and rebellion have come and sowed their ugly seeds.  And they have begun to bear fruit for death.”  Beloved, it is time for us to truly seek the Lord and ask Him to fix our spiritual walls!  Seek Him Today!

Questions:

1. What condition is your spiritual wall?
2. Do you need the Master Builder to come and repair parts of your spiritual wall?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, examine my spiritual wall and if there are any cracks, chips, holes or broken down sections, please send Your Spirit to mend and repair the damage.  Make my spiritual wall strong.  Amen. 

The Walls of Our Lives, Part 1

Scripture: Isaiah 49:15-16

"Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

Insights: Notice that the Lord inscribes us on His hand.  Now it is important to understand that not everyone is written in the palm of God’s hand.  The Lord is speaking to His chosen people in this passage.  Those, who by faith, trust in the Lord are those written on His palm.  God’s plan for redemption was always through His Son, Jesus.  The way of salvation in the Old Testament was the same as the New Testament—faith alone.  The only difference is in the New Testament God opened the way of salvation to the gentile world.  If we will receive the free gift of eternal life that Jesus’ death and resurrection purchased, we will be saved from hell and the punishment we rightfully deserve because of our sin.  This truth is the starting point to building a spiritual wall of faith with bricks of character.  For clarity sack, the walls which are continually before God in this verse are the walls of Jerusalem, but I am using it in a figurative way to describe our faith in God.  Tomorrow, I will address these walls from the standpoint of one who has already received Jesus as their Lord and Savior and compare it to the overview we found in the book of Nehemiah.  It is crucial, and most vital, however, that we started these verses here.  If you do not have a relationship with the Lord Jesus, then you are lost and your name is not written in His palm.  Your eternal destiny is hell, but it does not have to be.  All you have to do is confess your sins and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved.

Questions:

1. Is your name written in the palm of God’s hand?
2. If not, would you like to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior?  It is simply a matter of surrendering your life to the Lord.  The following prayer can start the journey.

Prayer: Father, I am a sinner and realize I can in no way save myself from my sins, because You are a just and holy God.  My sins must be punished and the rightful place for my punishment is hell.  But You love me; and therefore, made a way for me to be saved.  You sent Your Son, Jesus, to live among us and to die on a cross to take the penalty for my sins.  By faith, I receive this gift of eternal life and ask Your Spirit to come dwell in my life and to seal me for the day of Your Son’s return to take me home.  Amen. 

A Preview of the Book

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:3-4, 2:13-14, 16

They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven….So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass….The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

Insights: Yesterday we gave a brief history of Israel leading up to the book of Nehemiah.  Today, I am going to give us a brief overview of the book as it specifically relates to Nehemiah.  Today’s verses deal with two of the three roles Nehemiah held throughout this book.  First, Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king.  According to Chuck Swindoll, “it has been suggested by ancient historians that the cupbearer, like no other than the king’s wife, was in a position to influence the monarch.”  After hearing about the remnant in Jerusalem, Nehemiah needed a political favor from the king and his role as cupbearer gave him that opportunity.  Second, Nehemiah was a builder.  He knew, however, he could not just show up to Jerusalem and give this great plan for the rebuilding of the wall.  The reason for this wise decision was because Nehemiah knew people go through three stages to any idea that was not their own.  There was first rejection of the idea, then toleration for the idea and finally acceptance of the idea.  So, when he arrived as our verses today tell us, he went on a fact finding mission.  He surveyed the wall.  The final role Nehemiah held in this book was that of governor.  The people who were subject to him had been born slaves in captivity to parents in captivity.  They did not have much hope for their future.  When Nehemiah entered into this gubernatorial role it brought a since of hope to the people.  For the first time they believed there were signs of new beginnings for their lives.  Over the next two days we will see how these roles impact our lives.

Questions:

1. What roles have you had while serving the Lord?
2. In what role is God calling you presently?

Prayer: Father, I am so grateful You ordain my path.  You know exactly what I ought to be doing at every moment.  Give me the courage to follow hard after You into whatever arena You call me.  Amen. 

A Look at the Times

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 36:18-20

All the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officers, he brought them all to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles. Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia,

Insights: Jewish history began around 2000 B.C., but did not take on a national significance for another 1000 years.  It is then that king Saul comes on the scene and you have a united nation for three kings (Saul, David, and Solomon).  Solomon’s sin at the end of his life was so grievous to God that judgment was called down on Solomon.  The record of this judgment is found in 1 Kings 11:11-12.  At this point in history you have ten of the twelve tribes forming the northern nation of Israel and two of the tribes forming the southern nation of Judah.  In 722 B.C. the Assyrians came down and defeated the nation of Israel and they will not be heard of again in history.  The nation of Judah survives almost three hundred more years (586 B.C.) until Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar comes down and defeats them.  The reason both of these nations were defeated was because it was God’s judgment on them.  The people of the Lord could have been characterized as people who continually disobeyed the Lord God and followed a life of a downward spiral to destruction.  It is at this point today’s verses come into play.  Verse nineteen is crucial to remember as it describes the burning of the temple and the breaking down of the walls surrounding Jerusalem.  This captivity into slavery would last seventy years in fulfillment of God’s word through the prophet Jeremiah.  Then the king of Persia, Cyrus, would in a partnership with Darius, king of the Medes, invade Babylon and defeat them.  After their victory they released the children of God to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.  A group leaves under Zerubbabel and heads for Jerusalem.  Eighty years later another group leaves under the leadership of Ezra.  Finally a third group leaves thirteen years later under the leadership of Nehemiah.  Ezra would rebuild the temple.  Nehemiah would rebuild the wall.  The previous information helps set the scene for our study in this great book we call Nehemiah.

Questions:

1. Does your life follow a pattern of following hard of the Lord?
2. Does your life follow a pattern of continual disobedience to the Lord?

Prayer: Father, I am a frail and fallen person.  Forgive me of my selfishness and pride.  Move on my heart in such a fashion that my life is characterized by following hard after You.  Amen. 

The World in Which We Live

Scripture: Judges 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Insights: Yesterday was the first Sunday of the New Year.  It gives us hope for new imaginations, new prospects, and new opportunities.  We have a chance for renewed faith.  We have possibilities for strengthened character.  We live in such a time that we are desperate for fresh faith and bold character.  We only have to be reminded of James MacDonalds’ statistics from his book Vertical Church to realize the truth of this desperate time.  Six thousand churches close their doors every year.  Thirty-five hundred people walk away from the church every day.  Only one out of ten pastors will make it to the “retirement” years of life still in the ministry.   If we turn to a secular look we see the average American family has nine thousand dollars worth of credit card debt alone.  Our national debt has risen seven trillion dollars in just the past five years.  We have comedian and actress Wanda Sykes doing public service announcements during Saturday morning kids programming defending and supporting the homosexual community.  In essence, she is saying it is perfectly natural to be gay.  In a five minute span of time I flipped to ABC, CBS, FOX and 55.1 and on all four of those networks there was a scene that depicted sex outside the confines of marriage as okay and natural.  On January 4^th, the Barna research group released new findings regarding the changing shape of temptations in America.  One of interesting statistics was that sixty percent of Americans claim to procrastinate in all areas of their lives.  Consequently, sixty percent of Americans are also consumed with worry and anxiety.  Why are over half the Americans filled with such feelings? The answer is because they were not doing what they knew they ought to be doing and now they fear getting caught.  Beloved, we are living in the days of Judges 21:25.  We as a people do what is right in our own eyes.  As a result, we have a faithless and characterless society.  There is hope even in the midst of such information.  Over the next many weeks we are going to be studying the book of Nehemiah and we are going to build a wall of faith with bricks of character.  We are going to allow God to transform us and mold us into the people we were created to be.  Let us give all of our hearts for such an endeavor.

Questions:

1. Have you come to recognize the desperateness of the hour for the things of God?
2. Do you desire to be a person of faith and character?

Prayer: Father, I live in a wicked world that is filled with a void regarding faith and character.  I do not wish for my life to be represented by those characteristics.  Do what must be done to make me a person of faith and character.  Amen. 

What Satisfaction in the Lord Causes

Scripture: Philippians 4:20-23

Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Insights: Today’s Thoughts by Scott conclude the book of Philippians.  It has been a very enjoyable series of sermons.  I pray you have been blessed by reading these daily synopses of my sermon points.  Paul ended the book in proper fashion, which means he brought glory to God.  No matter what we face in this world, whether that is persecution from outside of the church or disagreements within the church, we can experience joy in Christ Jesus.  If we learn the lesson of contentment which we have written about this week, then we will experience this joy.  When we as Christ-followers are truly living this exchanged life in Jesus, we truly are bringing glory to God.  It is accomplished in two ways.  First, our very lives testify to God’s goodness and grace.  By living in submission to His will and trusting in Him alone for everything, we are content.  Living this way by faith proves our love for God and brings Him glory.  Second, as we live such a life before a watching world, people will be drawn to the Father.  In other words, lost people will want to know why we have such joy, peace and contentment and will begin to ask us questions.  If we are truly sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings, then we will be able to tell them about the love of Jesus.  When these lost people enter into that love relationship with Jesus, then God is again glorified.  So, Beloved, live life in total trust and obedience to the Lord and experience His joy IN you and allow God to be glorified as a result.  To God be the glory!

Questions:

1. Does your life of contentment draw people to the Lord?
2. Is your life bring glory to God?

Prayer: Father, let my life be used to draw men and women to You.  As they come into a saving relationship with Your Son, Jesus, may it bring You glory.  Amen. 

What Saints have Learned about Contentment - External Support

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-19

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Insights: Verse fourteen through eighteen in today’s verses deal with the assistance the church of Philippi gave to Paul.  This act of service is the second aspect of what saints have learned about contentment.  When we spend our lives in the service of others, we experience contentment.  The reason behind this is because we become a fragrant aroma and an acceptable sacrifice to God and He is well-pleased with us.  When He is well pleased, he supplies all of our needs and in the provision we experience contentment.  Now, please notice with me, God supplies our needs, not our wants.  We often times confuse our wants with our needs and when that happens we fall prey to the very things that steal contentment from the lost world—poverty and prosperity.  So, Beloved, ask for the Lord to open your eyes to the world around you.  Ask Him to let you see it as He does.  Then, begin to invest in those around you.  Serve those around you.  Become a blessing to those around you.  As you do, you will experience the joy of true contentment.

Questions:

1. In whose life are you investing?
2. Have you learned the secret of contentment as you serve others?

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the needs around me.  Help me to see as You see the world.  Grow me in Your Son and help my life be a fragrant aroma to those around me.  Amen. 

What Saints have Learned about Contentment - Internal Strength, Part 2

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-19

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Insights: Hudson Taylor, the father of modern missions, was a man deeply devoted and committed to Christ Jesus.  He worked long hours and sacrificed much in his life for the progress of the gospel.  Taylor, however, had not learned the secret of contentment found in Christ Jesus of which Paul has been writing.  Taylor did all things through Taylor’s strength and power.  In his book Spiritual Secret he has a chapter titled The Exchanged Life.  In this chapter he describes what he learned about Jesus’ presence IN the believer’s life.  He wrote, “To let my loving Saviour work in me His will, my sanctification, is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power; … resting in the love of an almighty Saviour, in the joy of a complete salvation, ‘from all sin’ - this is not new, and yet ‘tis new to me. I feel as though the dawning of a glorious day had risen upon me. I hail it with trembling, yet with trust. I seem to have got to the edge only, but of a boundless sea; to have sipped only, but of that which fully satisfies. Christ literally all seems to me, now, the power, the only power for service, the only ground for unchanging joy… It was the exchanged life that had come to him - the life that is indeed ‘No longer I.’ Six months earlier he had written, ‘I have continually to mourn that I follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious Master.’ There was no thought of imitation now! It was in blessed reality ‘Christ liveth in me.’ And how great the difference! - instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a restful sense of sufficiency in Another.”

Questions:

1. Are you trying to live life in your own strength and sufficiency?
2. Have you begun to experience the exchanged life of which Hudson Taylor spoke?

Prayer: Jesus, You live IN me and You alone are the source of my life, hope, and strength.  Put to death, O Lord, my self-rule and let me live the exchanged life found in You.  Amen. 

What Saints have Learned about Contentment - Internal Strength, Part 1

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-19

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Insights: I want to remind you of two words that were used in verses eleven and twelve yesterday.  In our English translation we used the word learned for both of these words.  In the Greek language, however, it is two separate words.  The one in verse eleven really does mean learn.  I will address that part in just a moment.  The word used in verse twelve, however, means initiated.  So, let me put this idea together for you.  The reason we are able to do all things through Jesus who strengthens us is because He initiated us into the secret.  This secret is available only to those who are a part of Jesus’ family—those who have been born again by receiving Jesus’ gift of salvation through His death and resurrection.  This initiation is the first of the three parts of salvation.  We call this part justification.  We are justified before God as righteous because of Jesus work in us.  Once we are initiated, however, we must learn how to be content in Christ.  This truth is the second part of salvation and we call it sanctification.  Sanctification is the process in which Jesus purges us of our old sin nature and conforms us into His image.  The third part of salvation occurs once we have entered into eternity with Jesus.  We call that third part glorification.  Tomorrow we are going to learn more about what life looks like when we have begun to learn these truths from Jesus.  Beloved, if we will humble ourselves to the glorious teaching of Christ Jesus, we truly will be able to do ALL THINGS for His glory because He supplies the strength to accomplish the task.  How glorious that will be when we truly learn how to live life in this fashion.  To God be the glory!

Questions:

1. Have you been initiated into the family of God?
2. Are you being pliable to Jesus’ teachings regarding contentment?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for teaching me how to live life inside out with You being the source of all strength and sufficiency.  Continue to mold me into a person of faith who trusts You completely.  Amen.