MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 “WHEN I HEARD THESE WORDS” Good morning and HAPPY NEW MONTH my dear friend. Welcome again to Wisdom Speaks Daily Devotional. Today the voice of Wisdom comes to you from the Book of Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 3-4: “And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.” [KJV] When Nehemiah received the sad news about the deplorable state of his poor fellow Jews who lived in Jerusalem at that time in Israel’s history, his response was quite different from his contemporaries who also heard the same sad news that day. His response that day set him apart from others and set him on a course of action by which he “obtained a good report” as God’s agent of change in Israel’s history. What does Wisdom speak about Nehemiah’s response? God calls you in Christ to live by faith. The Bible says, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). And notably, Nehemiah’s faith expedition also began on this note: “when I heard these words…I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4). Therefore whatever word you hear which stirs your heart to positive actions is an indicator to your calling or God-given assignment in life. Your heart responds to words according to God’s wiring of it for your life’s purpose or assignment. For the words which Nehemiah heard “and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,” were the very same words which others heard and felt indifferent about under the same circumstances. When King Saul and the whole army of Israel’s mighty men heard Goliath’s arrogant, taunting and blasphemous words against the Hebrews and their God, they were very afraid and each one of them found a thousand and one reasons not to volunteer to fight the giant. But when “David heard them,” they stirred a godly anger in his heart, which also motivated him to take positive actions to silent the “uncircumcised” and “take away the reproach from Israel” even at the risk of his personal safety (1Samuel 17:23-26). Also, Paul’s “spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city [of Athens] was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:16-17). That was a reflection of Paul’s heart’s disposition and an indicator to his God-given ministry or calling to “open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ Jesus]” (Acts 26:18). Does any word or situation ever stir up such godly provocation in you? Whatever stirs up such godly emotions in you so as to produce such positive remedial actions by you without minding the cost is both a reflection of your heart’s disposition and an indicator to your life’s assignment. It is good, wise and profitable for you to discover your life’s purpose now as you are standing on the banks of 2014, preparing to cross over into 2015. Your life in 2015 will yield greater impact and influence if only you would find and follow God’s purpose and plan for your life. PRAYER: My Father, Let Your light shine on my life now. Turn the darkness into light for me, and make every crooked path straight and smooth for my feet as I journey through this month into the New Year. By Your grace I will discover my life’s purpose and I will live the fruitful, impactful and successful life which You have ordained for me before my birth. Thank You, my Father, in Jesus name. Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 03:12:37 +0000
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