Nehemiah

Three times in the last week and a half, God has led me to the book of Nehemiah during my study time. I am going to write on what I feel God revealing to me during my study time as I work my way through the book.

After reading the first chapter, I am reminded once again how appropriate verses 5-11 are for praying. Almost every time I read chapter one, I will go back through and pray those verses for myself and my family because no matter how hard we try to be obedient, we are sinners and fail time and time again. It is because of scripture like this that I have the hope of forgiveness and redemption.

Here is how I personalize the scripture for us.

I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for Team Carmichael and confess the sins of Team Carmichael which we have sinned against You. Both my family and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name’. Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to my prayer, and to the prayers of Team Carmichael who desire to fear Your name; and let us prosper this day, I pray, and grant us mercy