For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ezra 8:22.
Ezra’s faith that God would do a mighty work for His people, led him to tell Artaxerxes of his desire to return to Jerusalem to revive an interest in the study of God’s word and to assist his brethren in restoring the holy city. As Ezra declared his perfect trust in the God of Israel as one abundantly able to protect and care for His people, the king was deeply impressed…. He made him a special representative of the Medo-Persian kingdom, and conferred on him extensive powers for the carrying out of the purposes that were in his heart….
Thus again the children of the dispersion were given opportunity to return to the land with the possession of which were linked the promises to the house of Israel….
Before them was a journey that would occupy several months. The men were taking with them their wives and children, and their substance, besides large treasure for the temple and its service. Ezra was aware that enemies lay in wait by the way, ready to plunder and destroy him and his company; yet he had asked from the king no armed force for protection….
In this matter, Ezra and his companions saw an opportunity to magnify the name of God before the heathen. Faith in the power of the living God would be strengthened if the Israelites themselves should now reveal implicit faith in their divine Leader. They therefore determined to put their trust wholly in Him. They would ask for no guard of soldiers. They would give the heathen no occasion to ascribe to the strength of man the glory that belongs to God alone. They could not afford to arouse in the minds of their heathen friends one doubt as to the sincerity of their dependence on God as His people…. Only by keeping the law of the Lord before them, and striving to obey it, would they be protected…. “So we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was entreated of us.”
Conflict and Courage p. 261
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Prayer Requests
—–Two prayer request. a friend of mine asked for prayer for her sister in law who is 76 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. her name is Brenda.
and the second request is for my granddaughter who gave birth last week to a baby girl but she was still born.. she only had a couple days before she would of been born. her mothers Blood sugar dropped way to low she contracted diabetes during Pregnancy.. why the Doctor didn’t pick up on it is sad. the mother’s name is Laurie.
And I have a teenage granddaughter that has tried suicide several times.. M
—-Please pray for David. He has a slipped disk. Pray that God will heal him so he may continue with his mission work. Rose
—–God is so good, and I praise him! He blesses me daily. It has been a long sleepless night, and I am heading out for _____ pretty soon, if you could please say a prayer, He knows the needs. Thank you in advance. Deb
—–I have had another Heart attack and I am in need of lots of Prayers. Talking about doing a bypass today the Doctors just said. Please Pray. Patrick
—–I would like to ask you all to pray for
José who is suffering a lot, he now is 70yo and he has diabetes and is being mistreated by his family. I
—-Please pray for my dear friends Kerrina and Sharon they are both suffering with pain. Iris
—–Please pray for Maggie, my mother in law. She is quadriplegic, lots of tough times. last Friday she was taken to hospital as she was septic. Still in ICU.
Also please pray for my sister Juliet who has been living in an abusive marriage for almost 19 years. Too much tears. Pray for God’s ultimate help. Mentari
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Dear Friends,
Chatting on messenger, posting on social media, or texting has become an almost expected way of life nowadays. It seems to be the easiest way to tell each other what is going on in our life, both the good and the bad. When we chat, it is almost like having a good visit together in the same room even though we may be miles away.
Our Dear Saviour longs for us to have even closer communion with Him than any earthly communication we have invented. He wants to be very near and dear to our heart, nearer and dear than any earthly ties. He wants first place in our heart and it is right that He should. He is our Creator, our Redeemer, our Re-creator. He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.” Gal 1:4 He says, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3 In that last great prayer on the way to Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21 Blessed privilege!
How may we have that oneness for which Jesus prayed? By listening to His voice as He speaks to us through His Holy Word and allowing His Spirit to change us into what He would have us to be. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” verse 17 Jeremiah declared, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15:16 David adds, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ps 119:9-12, 18
When we read God’s Word, we listen to His voice. Our Dear Saviour is
listening for our voice as well. He desires to be the center of our
life. He longs for us to share with Him all our sorrow, all our joys,
all our perplexities, everything. Paul advises, “Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:17,18 God asks, “Call unto me, and I will
answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest
not.” Jer 33:3
Think of it! The Great King of the Universe wants to have a close
relationship with us. He longs to hear our voice uplifted in prayer to
Him. He wants to speak to us through His Word. Through this daily
communion, “our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ.” 1 John 1:3
David sang, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well….
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Ps 139:1-17
May we listen to our Master’s voice as we daily read God’s Word instead of spending our time on social media. May our heart and mind be uplifted in prayer to our Dear Saviour as we go about our daily duties instead of spending our time texting unnecessary things. May we be so filled with His Spirit, that others will be drawn to the One Who loves us so is my prayer.
Rose