Day 1


"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the the God of heaven." Neh 1:4

Having heard the report that "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace" and that "The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire," Nehemiah is moved with his whole being and responds emotionally, physically and spiritually. He is moved with compassion (literally "with suffering"), the very opposite of apathy (literally "without suffering"). This compassion urges him to seek God on behalf of his people, his city and for himself. It is this compassion that will move Nehemiah to accomplish the seemingly impossible and experience true transformation. It is this compassion that brings heaven on earth, that brings sight to the blind and that groans with the Spirit to bring life where there is decay (see Mt 20:34; Rom 8:20-27). May God give us this compassion as we seek His face and consider our lives, the Church, the lost and our city! Pray for divine compassion today.
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"Und es geschah, als ich diese Worte hörte, da setzte ich mich hin und weinte und trug Leid etliche Tage lang; und ich fastete und betete vor dem Gott des Himmels." Neh 1,4

Nachdem er den Bericht gehört hat, dass „die nach der Gefangenschaft übrig geblieben sind, befinden sich dort in der Provinz in großem Unglück und in Schmach; und die Mauern Jerusalems sind niedergerissen und ihre Tore mit Feuer verbrannt,“ ist Nehemia mit seinem ganzen Wesen bewegt und reagiert emotional, körperlich und geistig. Er ist bewegt von Mitgefühl (wörtlich "mit Leiden"), das genaue Gegenteil von Apathie (wörtlich "ohne Leiden"). Dieses Mitgefühl drängt ihn, Gott im Namen seines Volkes, seiner Stadt und für sich selbst zu suchen. Es ist dieses Mitgefühl, das Nehemia dazu bewegen wird, das scheinbar Unmögliche zu vollbringen und wahre Transformation zu erleben. Es ist dieses Mitgefühl, das den Himmel auf Erden bringt, das den Blinden das Augenlicht bringt und das mit dem Geist stöhnt, um Leben zu bringen, wo es Verfall gibt (siehe Mt 20,34; Röm 8,20-27). Möge Gott uns dieses Mitgefühl geben, wenn wir Sein Gesicht suchen und unser Leben, die Gemeinde, die Verlorenen und unsere Stadt betrachten! Betet heute um göttliches Mitgefühl.



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