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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4

Read: Nehemiah 1
Listen: Nehemiah 1

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Nehemiah receives distressing news from home that breaks him. Nehemiah serves the king of Persia but longs for Israel (his homeland) to be restored. Israel’s stubborn disobedience after years of warnings led to war, defeat and exile in a foreign nation 140 years prior. Years later, a new ruling kingdom decrees that scattered Israelites may return home. Yet few have returned to Jerusalem 90 years after the decree. Nehemiah hears the city’s wall is lying in shambles with burned gates and people living in fear. His beloved people and city suffer trouble and disgrace. Nehemiah knows this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. God intends his people to reflect God’s glory and hope to the world. Nehemiah spends extended days mourning, fasting and praying. He knows something has to change.

We all face situations that aren’t the way they should be sooner or later. It may be a marriage teetering on the edge, financial troubles, a child’s destructive choices or a devastating diagnosis. We know things need to change, but it seems impossible. We can turn to God in our grief and devastation, just as Nehemiah did. We can cry out that this isn’t how it should be and sit in our grief with God.

We will see in Nehemiah’s story how rebuilding isn’t simple. Over the next six weeks, this sermon series walks through his setbacks, complexities and weariness. We discover God is close and cares about our pain. We are not alone in our season of rebuilding. God is present and provides the courage, strength and perseverance to endure.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Evaluate what situation in your life, or someone you care about, isn’t how it should be. Spend time praying to God, grieving and acknowledging the pain. Consider fasting over the situation as well. Revisit our Beyond the Weekend fasting spiritual practice for more information HERE.

2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

October is SERVING. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.