An Everyday Miracle

Exhausted from facing the daily obstacles in my life, unique but not nearly so difficult as others I have faced or that other people face, I went to bed in a tearful frame of mind last night. The barren land of chronic pain, boring chores, and thwarted dreams lay before me.

As I have done many times, I picked up my Bible with an attitude my heavenly Father may not appreciate. Nevertheless, He loves me, one of his weak children. Let me explain. I prayed last night, as I do when I'm struggling, "Lord, this Bible is Your word. I'm going to open it at random and let You show me what I need." This careless approach may be something my Lord finds offensive; yet He speaks to me through all my human flaws.

Last night was no exception. The Lord spoke to me through His word. To my surprise I opened the Bible to the first chapter of Nehemiah, a book not easy to find in the Old Testament. Nehemiah, who as an exile had become the king's cup bearer in a distant country, received a message that the survivors who had returned from exile to Jerusalem were in trouble. They suffered disgrace and danger because the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates had been burned.

When Nehemiah heard how his people suffered, he sat down and wept. After allowing himself to stop and acknowledge the sadness within him, he moved on to the solution that never fails. He prayed. First he expressed his feelings of love and honor for Jehovah, the true God.

Nehemiah prayed, "I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him and observe His commandments:" (Nehemiah 1:5)

Then he asked God to open His ears and eyes to the suffering of Nehemiah and the Jewish people. He confessed his sins and accepted responsibility for the sins of all his broken nation. He recalled God's promises and expressed delight in the Lord.

Finally he made his specific request. He prayed for the Lord, his God with great power and strong hands to attend to his specific needs. Nehemiah asked for prosperity and mercy. (To read the entire prayer, refer to Nehemiah, chapter 1)

Never would I reduce the one true God of the universe to a grandfather dispensing wealth simply because we remember to pray to Him. Instead I am stating simply that my Father reminded me He will supply my needs and help me succeed in life's challenges. This He will do for His glory and my security. The broken fences and torn down gates of my life He will help me restore. He provides the miracle of another day to serve Him until He calls me to His house to enjoy His presence forever.

Today I see the joys of opportunity, the challenges of life. I ask, "How, Lord, have You planned to lead me in your service today?"