WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4-11; 2 Chronicles 7:14

In studying the book of Nehemiah, we discover he was a patriot who wept over the sins of the Jewish people against their God, and who begged for the kind of forgiveness that we in America need. Many of the true church have lived in this posture for a long time. This depth of prayer involves deep repentance of which God speaks in 2 Chronicles 7:14, when He says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1 seems to come from a place of great grief, where he knows full well the grievous sins committed by the Jews in their idolatry and wickedness at the end of the reign of kings. He knows that God’s judgment on Israel and Judah was just, so he begs for forgiveness. Similar prayers may be heard these days if one goes to a March for Life, 9 joins in a protest outside a Planned Parenthood or has participated in a prayer walk in Washington DC. Nehemiah was no great advisor to a ruler. He was a humble cupbearer. But even in that role, God positioned him to influence King Artaxerxes for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Wherever God has currently positioned us, let us have the heart of a patriot for the kingdom of heaven, and be ready to repent for both personal and national sin and continue to join the true church in participating in repentance. Let God use us to move mountains and hearts!