Sept 29 - Nehemiah 9:32

Now therefore, our God,

the great, the mighty,

and the awesome God,

who keeps covenant

and loving kindness,

do not let all the hardship

seem insignificant before you,

which has come upon us.

Nehemiah 9:32

Isn't this a perfect verse for this past September in our hemisphere? "O God ... do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before you, which has come upon us."

 

Hurricane Harvey. Then Hurricane Irma. Then Hurricane Maria. Then multiple Mexican earthquakes. Many of our own southern cities are battered and waterlogged. But the worse damage is generally in poorer places - Carribean islands and Mexican villages. "O God ... do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before you, which has come upon us."

 

That's the petition: "Help us, Good Lord."

 

But before the petition, the prayer reminds us and reminds God about the basis upon which we dare to make this request: 

 

O God, you are "great," please remember us. You are "mighty," apply your strong arm to save. You are "awesome," hear our prayer. You "keep covenant," do not let us fall. Your heart is full of "loving kindness"; in love you could never forget your children, could you. Therefore, indeed, "do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before you, which has come upon us."

We constantly need to remind ourselves of who God is - especially when tragedy strikes. Do we need to "remind" God? No. He knows! But do you think we ever need to remind him that we are reminded, that we truly know. 

 

We call "knowing" God's goodness "faith." And our faith is always the basis upon which we approach the ever-faithful God. And he yearns to joyfully respond to faith. 

 

Try incorporating praise into your prayers - reminding yourself and reminding God!

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is writing

this at breakfast;

time to remind God

that he is the provider,

as I go to get my

daily bread