Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- January 30, 2014
But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. Nehemiah 4:9
Prayer does not preclude action and action does not dismiss prayer. Being and doing are necessary for God’s will. Nehemiah and his team tethered their hearts to God in trust, but they also assigned a guard 24/7 to watch out for attacks from the enemy. Yes indeed, prayer empowers the person praying to be bold in the work of God. It produces an inner resolve to serve as unto the Lord. Prayer and watchfulness work together to accomplish the Almighty’s purposes.
What tension do you feel between doing your part and trusting God’s part? Wisdom seeks Christ daily to determine how He is leading. His Holy Spirit will guide you in what needs to be done for today. Don’t allow unnecessary interruptions to rob you of experiencing God’s best. Beware of those who live frantic and faithless lives. Their problems need not become your crisis lest you are led astray. Pray for needy people and help them as the Spirit leads. Watch out for distractions.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:40
Prayer produces the right actions. Activities without insight from Almighty God can miss being the most effective. Like a sailor on deck looks up to the captain on the bridge for a clearer view, so we are wise to peer into the Lord’s perspective as our guide before moving forward. Heaven’s telescope of truth is able to focus in on what needs to happen on earth. When we seek wisdom from above, we better understand what to do below. Actions led by prayer get the best results.
So, what are you facing that invites prayer and support from other saints of God? Who can you summon into your confidence for comfort, love and intercession? Signs of trouble aren’t meant to be faced alone, but in the strength of the Spirit and undergirded by a caring community. You may be used to assisting others, but now is your opportunity to receive. It blesses believers to be a blessing to you. The Body of Christ is healthy when it prays and acts in love toward one another.
Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do. Jeremiah 42:3
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray You will lead me in where I should go and in what I should do.
Related Readings: Jeremiah 42:20; Daniel 6:10; Matthew 6:5-7; Acts 9:40; 2 Corinthians 13:7
Post/Tweet today: When we seek wisdom from above, we better understand what to do below. #prayerandaction
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Thank you for your reminders to pray. You gird me up at times where I feel as though one prayer is enough. “God heard me, He will answer,” I say to myself. But I must continue to pray in order to continually seek Him, not petition Him. You are a blessing to me. Maria!
I Pray each day to our loeing chirst to watch over our loving family my husband and sons to find jobs to bring loving kindness and to all my loving brother and sisters all over the world to our hearts all over the worldplease help us find our way we keep god first in our livestell me were iam loseing him
Dear Vicky~
What a precious gift you are to your family! To have a praying wife and mother is such a blessing for your whole family and it glorifies God, too! Your prayer “to help us find our way and keep God first” is so wise and fitting for our world today. Thank you, Vicky, for sharing that wisdom with us and please let us hear from you again. I can “hear” the sincerity and humility in your words and I find that to be so encouraging.
Have a blessed day.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:13,17
This 2014 wisdom truly helped me today in 2016. I am one who prays and helps others, and now the Lord told me through you that I am on the receiving end. Hardship came yesterday and I prayed this morning. I was asked to continue what the Lord gave me to do, and that I did. Not until I rose to continue His command, did I receive beautiful replies from Christian sisters in the Lord, rallying to help me. The Lord’s name be praised.
Dear ahn’na,
Thank you so much for your sincere and faith-filled response after reading “Prayer and Action”.
Your comments are a very clear example of praying first and then, acting. Thank you for not only your obedience, but for your testimony, so we can all recognize the power HE gives us when we do pray, then act.
Thank you, also, for being a praying friend for others; through serving others you are serving HIM.
We are grateful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter and look forward to hearing from you again.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6: 17-18