Writing with faith, hope, and love
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Editors note: These devotionals are based on the time I spent in the Word of God and are taken from my personal archives. Some of them have been revised!

May the peace of the Lord Jesus lift you up. Hold on to His peace through whom we have our being! Amen!

" Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us through your
servant Moses. "Please remember what you told your servant Moses: `If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.' "We are your servants, the people you rescued by your great power and might. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me. "In those days I was the king's cup-bearer. " (Nehemiah 1:5-11)

This is a huge passage, I had to digest compared to the previous days. The nuggets of inspiration and wisdom here too are thrilling. I want to continue to share with you what I have learned about prayer. As I studied the passage over and over, many things stood out in Nehemiah's prayer to the Lord Most High.

Observations:
1. Prayer of Praise (Nehemiah 1:5)
2. Prayer of Intercession (Nehemiah 1:6a)
3.Prayer of Confession: Corporate & Individual (Nehemiah 1:6b-7)
4. Prayer of Promise (Nehemiah 1:8-9)
5. Prayer of Dependence (Nehemiah 1:10-11)

"Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel." (Nehemiah 1:6a)

Observations/Intepretations:
Looking at Nehemiah's prayer life was very touching for me. I learned that he prayed night and day for God's people Israel. He took time to pray for them before the God of Heaven. That time became his time of intercession for God's people of Israel. What was most interesting is that no matter what the people were going through, he still knew they were God's people. That is evidenced by the fact of letting God know that they were God's people and needed God's help.

His intercession was not a one time thing thinking 'Ok, I prayed for them and it's in God's hands now.' But he was diligent in his prayers for those that were suffering. His prayer of intercession went on. He believed in God who can look down and see the plight of His people and rescue them if he chooses to.

Applications:

I saw important implications for my own life.

Do I just pray one time for someone's needs/concerns and leave it there or do I consistently and diligently intercede for the concerns and prayer requests of others?

A prayer of intercession is Scriptural. I am reminded of the story of the Widow and Judge that Jesus tells (Luke 18)

Sometimes it can become discouraging when we do not see answers right away. There can be a temptation to quit. From Nehemiah's actions, I have learned not to quit but be diligent in my intercessions.

I ask you now dear friends, how far does your intercession go?

Dear friends, interceding before the Lord on behalf of others can be tiresome at times. At other times, it may just seem plain frustrating when nothing may seem to answer.

Are you praying that your loved one will come to Christ?

Are you praying for a miracle in your life?

Have you seen answers yet?

Don't give up for we have the promises of God's Word. Let us be diligent in our prayers and intercessions knowing that we are being obedient to God in our prayer life. Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you is what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 7. If you look at the Greek, you will realize that it is not a one time thing but a persistence asking, seeking, and knocking. Remember ASK (Ask, Seek, Knock) and leave the results in the Lord's Hands. We do not understand His ways many times, but He is loving and just. He will answer in His wonderful timing. May you never give up in your prayer life whatever you are going through. May you receive wisdom from the Lord to handle the situations that come your way getting strength and endurance from Him through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Amen!

Intercede Now Telling Everlasting Redeemer Concerns Everyday So, Savior's Inspiration Offers Nurture! (I.N.T.E.R.C.E.S.S.I.O.N)/"How Far Does Your Intercession Go?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. Lord, we praise you for who you are. Thank you for interceding on our behalf before the Father. Help us Oh Lord not to give up but intercede on behalf of your children before you. Oh Lord, we are sorry when we give up. We thank you that we can ask you, seek you, and knock at your Door. Oh Lord, help the one who is suffering now. Bring your healing into their lives. Thank you Jesus. We trust in you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh