NEHEMIAH AND ANSWERS TO PRAYERS

Before I start on this post I have to say something complimentary about an otherwise pretty wordly show, Live with Regis and Kelly. I think that show is pretty cute so I turned it on this morning while ironing. I soon realized that this was their annual wedding show where two real people get married on live TV. I tuned in late so I didn't hear about the couple's story but apparently they had been reunited on the same show last year and now they were getting married. I was absolutely beaming when the pastor, a Baptist pastor to boot, started the ceremony. The words he spoke were so God honoring and filled with Scripture. Frankly I was not expecting this and it was such a pleasant surprise to hear this beautiful ceremony this morning. Did anyone else see this?

Now onto the topic at hand. My dh and I are beginning a study on Nehemiah and I am always struck by the first chapter. Nehemiah, even though he was in captivity at the time, really loved the people of God even when they were sinning. His prayer of repentance for himself and the people convicts me on many levels. First of all, how much time do I spend praying for those in my local body of Christ instead of criticizing them? How often do I lament the state of the body of Christ instead of fasting, praying, weeping and mourning for it? I think sometimes it's en vogue to heap on the criticisms of our fellow brothers and sisters when we haven't even prayed for them, and ourselves. I, personally, have had seasons of intense prayer for my church and my pastor. But the criticisms and opinions have been far more prevalent than the prayers. Graciously, the Lord has answered some of my feeble prayers. Our SBC premillenial, midtrib pastor recently preached partly on Romans 9. I about fell out of my seat. He has recently started quoting the commentaries of the late James Montgomery Boice. And even more significant, pay attention to what happened in the service yesterday. He preached on the deeds of the flesh, more specifically, sexual immorality and sensuality. It was a very hard hitting sermon where he mentioned the sins of pornography and immodesty several times. He stressed repentance as well. Then, we had communion. And, before we partook(?) of the bread, our pastor asked us to kneel on the floor in private confession of our sins. I don't remember us ever doing this in the past 9 years I've been there. Plus, we don't have kneelers! It was very powerful and reminded me that God is working in the midst of our congregation even if some would use a broad brush and call us a Southern Baptist, dispensational, seeker sensitive, contemporary-music-singing megachurch. At first glance, it may seem this way, but God is working. Let's stay on our knees and keep praying for our churches and the whole body of Christ. He is faithful. Amen.