How Long Before We Wake Up

But in your great mercy you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are. Nehemiah 9:31 The Living Bible

Good Morning Girlfriends:

How many of us can remember living our younger days just like the Israelis, one day crying out to God for help, and the next day going on our merry way doing what we were doing before. There were times when we didn't even call out to God at all unless we were in such a mess and couldn't handle it, or know what to do. Let's look at the book of Nehemiah, chapter nine and look at the similarities.

As the people had returned for another observance of God, God's law was read, they took turns confessing their sins and the sins of their ancestors before them, as everyone worshipped the Lord God in songs of praise, praising His glorious name. Ezra was acknowledging God for who He was, the creator of the heavens and the earth, the seas and everything in them. Ezra acknowledged that Abram chosen, how You were faithful to him and his descendants, making a contract to give the land of the Canaanites and all of the other "Ites," as he proclaimed that God was true to His word.

Ezra recalled the time that the Israelites stood at the Red Sea after being led out of Egypt, and how God had delivered them from their enemies, in which Pharaoh and his army were drowned never to be seen again. He acknowledged the goodness of God in how he led them by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night for protection. Ezra had brought up how God had visited His people, bringing out the ten commandments through Moses for them to follow, and how God had fed them with bread from heaven when they were hungry and had given them water from the rock when they were thirsty.

Many of God's people were stubborn and proud and refused to listen to God's commandments, some refused to obey and didn't even pay attention to the miracles that God had performed for them, and they rebelled. Ezra reminded God that He was gracious and merciful, willing to forgive, slow to become angry with them, Ezra mentioned that God was full of love and that He didn't abandon them. Ezra continued by saying that God had helped them conquer great kingdoms and nations, and as God had put His people in every corner of the land, God allowed them to populate and were able to capture cities and houses that were full of good things. Ezra brought up once again how the people rebelled and were disobedient towards God as they turned to sin once again.

Girlfriends, can you think back in your own life some of these same scenarios, even when we weren't serving God, but at times when things were going bad we still would tend to call out to Him. Nehemiah 9:30 tells us, "You were patient with them for many years. You sent your prophets to warn them about their sins, but still they would not listen. So once again you allowed the heathen nations to conquer them." In our key verse, verse 31 it continues to say that because of God's great mercy, He did not destroy them. Down in verse 33 it says "Every time you punished us you were being perfectly fair; we have sinned so greatly that you gave us only what we deserved."

There times that I can think back on different situations in my life when I had called out to God about a situation, I know now that because I was not living my life for Him, I was doing things my own way, living with a man, living in sin. It wasn't until a little later we decided to marry, but he was not the man that God had for me, he certainly was not for God at all, needless to say that marriage did not last for long.

It wasn't until I was into another marriage and expecting my fourth child, that I realized my life was going in the same cycle, things were spiraling, and that is when I called out to God in a very serious plea. It was at that moment I was willing to turn my life over to God, and start living for Him, by living by His commandments, Living by what His word said, and I can tell you, that is when I saw a dramatic change in my life. My life changed so much, my values changed, my revelation of God's word came forth with much exuberance, Praise God!

I'm telling you, it is when you give your heart and full surrender to the Lord, that is when you will see a mighty change in your life, in your situations, as you get into alignment with the word of God, When God becomes number one in your life, you will see a miraculous change. Thank God that He is a patient, loving and merciful God with us, He was back then, and as His word says, He is always true to His word, Amen? Amen!

He is still the same God today as He was back then, He does not change. (Hebrews 13:8)

Let's Pray,

Father God, Thank You Lord for being such a gracious, kind, loving and patient God. Thank You for loving Your children with an everlasting, and compassionate heart. Lord, I lift up those dear sweet souls that have not totally surrendered their lives to You. Lord, I ask that You would visit them in a way that is so unexplainable that it could only be explained as being a visitation from the Almighty God. Lord, I thank You for all that You are doing in people's lives, how You are changing lives, changing family dynamics, as You show Yourself in new ways to each person. Lord I give You praise, glory and honor for who You are and the amazing God that You truly are, Amen.

Be blessed and pass the blessings on to others, and thank you for passing this message on.