Day 38
And you saw
the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, and
performed signs and wonders… And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this
day.
Nehemiah
9:9-10
Selfishness
can destroy. Not only can it destroy those that we have a relationship with,
but it can destroy us as well. When we make ourselves the center of all we do, it
has a counter affect. Instead of making us feel better, it destroys us
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
As
we read the great prayer of repentance in Nehemiah 9, we discover that the
people of Jerusalem had come to understand this. Their prayer could have focused
on how unfair things were. They could have made their case based on the idea
that they deserved better, but they did not. The people of Jerusalem recognized
that it was not about them at all.
As
they looked down through the history of Israel, they saw again and again how
faithful God had been. However, they also recognized that God’s faithfulness
was not about them at all. God’s faithfulness was about His name and His name
alone.
Understanding
how jealous God is for His own glory (not an emotionally immature jealousy that
we might display), it will absolutely change the way we pray. Our prayers will
turn from, “God this is not fair, I do not deserve this, do something for me,”
to, “God, put your glory on display.” When we are more interested in God’s glory
than our own comfort, our prayers will possess new power.
Begin
to think through the things you are struggling with. How might your prayers
look different if you are seeking God’s will and God’s glory as oppose to our
own release from the pressure? Is it possible that our problems and struggles
will become meaningful? Will we have a sense of purpose where previously we had
none?
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