Bible Verse of the Day Monday March 6th, 2023

Nehemiah 1:6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.

When Nehemiah, who supervised the rebuilding of the Temple after the seventy-year Babylonian captivity, surveyed the fallen state of affairs in the land of the Israelites, he confessed his sins and the sins of his family and the others around him. This concept is not popular today, but the Bible shows that our prayers should not only be limited to our needs and confessions. God desires that we pray for ourselves, our needs, and our admissions, as well as our families, our friends, and all in our communities and worldwide.

There Have been some devastating earthquakes worldwide in the past several months. These people needed prayer as the rescue operations got underway. Many people in those countries have lost loved ones and need a prayer of comfort. Most importantly, we should pray that everyone might be receptive to God's movement for salvation. The Pastor I relieved at Lighthouse Baptist Church in 2007 retired from actively pastoring a church to a life of intercessory prayer. He went home to be with Jesus several years ago, but in the interim, he did not sit still, and like Nehemiah, he spent his days praying for his family, his community, and all people around the world. The humble action of intercessory prayer allows us to be a small part of God's care, concern, and love for all people. We can bring no issue before God that is too trivial or inconsequential for His loving care.

Sometimes, we all find ourselves in some spiritual battle and cannot see any end to the tribulation. However, through the Holy Word of God, we can be assured that when we bring our petitions or the needs of others to God, His heart and concern are moved. God is well pleased with all those carrying the needs and rejoices of others to His throne of Grace. The greatest intercessor the world has ever known is our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. He knew what it was to suffer greatly and sweat drops of blood for all the world's people. We find in the scriptures that Jesus spent many long nights praying for others. Many great people of God were committed to intercessory prayer, including Daniel, David, and the Apostle Paul, to name a few.

God is in control of the entire universe, and through the intercession of Christ Jesus, He releases His power in the lives of all that come to Him. The unsaved can come to God through Christ Jesus and know that He lovingly and patiently stands at the door of the hearts of all those who do not know Him as their Lord and Savior. Our intercession in the lives of the lost of this world is introducing them to Christ Jesus. The greatest thing that any human being can do for another Human is to introduce them to the only way to salvation and eternal life, Christ Jesus.