Thank You LORD for taking our mourning and prayers and turning them into praises for You.

Today’s Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4-5, NKJV- “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: “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,”

Nehemiah is one of the books of the Bible that describes the feelings of my heart, mind, and soul. It can be months or even years before I return but when I do I feel Nehemiah’s heart. I can relate to being in low places and experiencing God bringing me to a place joy and praise. I am praying now as we read this together that we serve God together.

I am thankful for the promise of Nehemiah 1:9 which states, “but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.” No matter how far we have gone we can return to the LORD.

We can learn to pray as Nehemiah 1:11. Lord, please give me success today and grant me favor in the presence of others today. I am praying now for God’s Word to prosper, and His favor be upon each of us as we share what God has called us to do today.

We can stand together and pray as those in the days of Nehemiah 9:5-6, ““Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed: “May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.” (NLT)

As I read name after name of the servants of God in Nehemiah chapters 9-12 who returned to Israel approximately 2500 years ago, I am reminded that it takes all of us praying for each other and praying to God for His prosperity and His favor as we go to where He desires. I am also reminded that the “occupation” we hear about today from those against the God of Israel and unfamiliar with the promises of God, is not new.

We must pray and go to where God is calling us to dwell with Him. In Nehemiah 12:8 we are given names of those “in charge of songs of thanksgiving.” What have you and I been put in charge of? We were created by God for responsibilities to God and His people. We can be like those people in Nehemiah 12:45 and rejoice because God has given us great joy. The sound of our rejoicing can also be heard far away.

I have experienced that we can live in the boundless joy of God. We can sing the songs, play the instruments, and serve in the capacities God desires for each of us. We need not compare but only go, do, and be where God is calling us to dwell in His Name. He will prosper our efforts and grant us favor to praise His name before all others and be heard around the world.

Will you sing your praises today?

Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the great joy You give to us. Thank You for creating this world and for creating us for your joy. Fill us LORD and guide us to dwell with you. Equip us and compel us to sing Your praises to this world today. LORD, I am praying now for You to give us success today and grant us Your favor with everyone and everything we face today. In Jesus’ name we do pray, Amen.