This morning’s devotion was exactly what I needed. My blog has gone silent because of some changes that life has brought me that has me pushed to the limits. The company that I work for was sold, the new company expanded my role, but I am down five employees so I am stretched very thin. Add on top of that the demands of a family and trying to be there for my congregation and let’s just suffice it to say, I feel like I am not mastering anything lately.
Then this morning’s devotional time comes and the Lord speaks to me as only He can. I have been using the “Our Daily Bread” series for years as I love their format, and the accountability of a calendar day to each devotion. With all that is going on I haven’t been getting my time with the Lord in each morning so I decided to “make up” for yesterday and I was glad I did.
The devotional for yesterday was on Nehemiah 6. Nehemiah is rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and the surrounding rulers are doing everything in their power to convince him to do anything else; even to the point of making up lies. I love Nehemiah’s response in verse 8:
I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
I love it! Nehemiah is a man after my own heart! Call it like it is and move on, keeping your eyes on the prize! As I reflected on this statement, I couldn’t help but think about Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
How true. The same actions by the neighboring rulers with Nehemiah are the same things I deal with everyday. The awesome thing however is that there is another thing that is not “new under the sun;” God’s love for us and His desire to be there for us each and every day.
Regardless of what I am going through, God is there. Regardless of what I am feeling, God is there. Regardless of what is happening around me, God is there. That isn’t new and will never change. God is there.
How awesome is that. The creator of the universe cares enough about me to want me to come to him with my frustrations, however small they may really be. Praise God for that!
An Ordinary Methodist 