YUP! It’s our 11th day in our 30 / 30 Challenge and I don’t know about you, but I’ve loved doing some digging together!
If you’re using the Freebie, Journal Your Way through the Word, click on the link and print it out to make your journaling easy. If not, please be sure to grab your notebook or journal and go grab your 30, sweet friend!
MY TURN:
In Nehemiah 11:1-2, we find them casting lots to decide who would relocate to Jerusalem to carry on the work there. Remember, the children of Israel came from towns all around to help with the work, and they decided to leave it up to God to choose who would stay. Casting lots was they way they did that.
This reminds me of Proverbs 16:9 that tells us, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Whether it’s through casting lots or making detailed plans, God is in control and when we submit to Him, we are in for the journey of a lifetime!
Nehemiah 11:3- 12:42 ~ Again we find God’s people listed by name and by families. Some stayed in Jerusalem, others went to surrounding communities, but all mattered to God.
No matter who you are or what you do, YOU MATTER TO GOD! Your FAMILY MATTERS TO GOD! And knowing that we all matter should help us not only see ourselves as significant, but it should also help us see OTHERS as significant. No mater who they are or what they’ve done or what family they are in. They matter to God and their family matters to God.
Nehemiah 13 ~ Is a chapter where one man cleaned house and set things straight and called on God to remember him for good because he sought to live according to the Word of God.
There are some great nuggets in this treasure trove chapter of Nehemiah, but two things stand out that I want to share about.
1. Verse 2 says God turned cursings into blessings. People may come against us in our pursuit to follow God. Circumstances may overwhelm us and insults may leave us feeling very broken. But God turns each curse into a blessing for those who love the Lord and who are the called according to His purpose. That’s what Romans 8:28 tells us. God works ALL things together for our good!
Isaiah 61:1-3 tells us God comforts those who mourn, heals the broken-hearted and makes beauty out of ashes.
No matter what you’re going through or what has been done against you, God sees you and He will make beauty out of ashes.
2. In this one chapter, Nehemiah says, REMEMBER ME, OH GOD, FOR GOOD! God sees every attempt we make to live according to His Word and do what is right regardless of what others think or say. Hebrews 6:10 tells us God will not forget our labor of love. Matthew 10:42 says that if we give even a cold drink to someone in His name that we will be rewarded by God.
God sees every person in every place in every circumstance that they may find themselves. He sees, He cares and He will not forget every sacrifice you’ve made, every time you’ve chosen good over evil, to tell the truth instead of lying, to care for the needs of others, to forgive, to give, to encourage, to teach, to comfort, to correct, and to serve.
YOUR TURN: HOW HAS GOD SPOKEN TO YOU THROUGH NEHEMIAH 10 – 13?
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