Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Priorities are Your Treasure
Priorities identify Your Treasure
Country Music Artist Brad Paisley has a song entitled, I’m Gonna Miss Her. It’s sort of a funny song, but really it’s more sad and says much about his priorities. His priorities tell us where his treasure is. The lyrics are:
Well I love her And I love to fish I spend all day out on this lake And hell is all I catch Today she met me at the door Said I would have to choose If I hit that fishin’ hole today She’d be packin’ all her things And she’d be gone by noon Well I’m gonna miss her When I get home But right now I’m on this lake shore And I’m sittin’ in the sun I’m sure it’ll hit me When I walk through that door tonight That I’m gonna miss her Oh, lookie there, I’ve got a bite
For the guy in this song, his treasure can be found out on the boat fishing…not with her. He can tell her he loves her, but would she believe him? Even if she did, she’d be inclined to believe that he loved fishing more. There is nothing wrong with fishing…or even loving fishing, if that’s your “thing.” There isn’t anything wrong with any hobby you might love to do. But it is wrong to put those hobbies before the relationships we share with people and God.
What if we swapped the word “her” in the lyrics and replaced it with “God?” The same is true with God. You can tell God (and everyone else) you love Him, but what’s your heart attitude on Sunday morning when it’s time to go to church? Are you eager to go and spend time with him? How much time do you spend reading God’s message, the Bible? How much time do you spend talking with Him in prayer? What’s your attitude when the offering plate is passed? How eager are you to tell others about Jesus and what’s He’s done for you?
Your heart belongs to what you treasure
When our priorities are out of whack, it’s hard for people to believe you care about them and it’s hard for God to accept it too. Anytime our words say one thing but our actions say something else, our words will not be believed. Jesus taught us that your heart truly belongs to what it most treasures. And what we treasure we prioritize.
Out of order priorities will identify idols
Since a disciple or follower of Jesus is to love God with all his heart (Deuteronomy 6:5), love for any material possessions, hobbies, games, sports, jobs, money, or anything else is a subtle form of idolatry when those things are loved more than we love God. Colossians 3:5 says, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The command to “put to death” refers to the practical outworking of seeking and thinking about heavenly things.
Paul’s list in this verse sums up five categories of earthly vices that can become idols when they become more important to us than God. The guy in the song lyrics had a passion for fishing, so, for him, fishing could be an idol in his life.
What are your priorities?
What would be the treasure of your heart? Are there any priorities you need to get back in control so that the greatest treasure of your heart is God? If God has revealed any priorities that are out of order or even an idol in your life, would you right now come humbly before God, confess it and set your priorities in the right order?
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Click here to listen to our devotions on Spotify be sure to follow us.
Visit our three retail experiences:
Bible study and Self Care Resources
Christian Tees, Bags, Mugs & More
We are an affiliate of CBD. We earn a commission on any purchase you make when you enter the store through this link. However, your CBD price is the same. Visit CBD for Bibles, Bible studies, gifts & more
Tee of the Week: All Things New
The new year brings the reminds that God makes all things new – including us as we place our faith and trust in Him. Just as a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly, God takes our old sinful beings and makes us a new creation in Him. Based on Rev 21:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. These two designs are on t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, mugs, bags, tumblers and more. Click the links to see all the available products in these two designs.
Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?
We’re offering 30% off our speaker fees as our gift to you if you book any 2022 event with us by December 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: CHRISTMAS2021.
We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.
904.239.8937
Visit our YouTube Channels for Christian playlists and our short animated devotionals.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
Scripture to memorize and meditate on
Conversation Starters
Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
Romance Builders
Relationship Builders
Personal reflections
Date ideas
Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Everything Christian for less!
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Priorities are Your Treasure
Priorities identify Your Treasure
Country Music Artist Brad Paisley has a song entitled, I’m Gonna Miss Her. It’s sort of a funny song, but really it’s more sad and says much about his priorities. His priorities tell us where his treasure is. The lyrics are:
Well I love her And I love to fish I spend all day out on this lake And hell is all I catch Today she met me at the door Said I would have to choose If I hit that fishin’ hole today She’d be packin’ all her things And she’d be gone by noon Well I’m gonna miss her When I get home But right now I’m on this lake shore And I’m sittin’ in the sun I’m sure it’ll hit me When I walk through that door tonight That I’m gonna miss her Oh, lookie there, I’ve got a bite
For the guy in this song, his treasure can be found out on the boat fishing…not with her. He can tell her he loves her, but would she believe him? Even if she did, she’d be inclined to believe that he loved fishing more. There is nothing wrong with fishing…or even loving fishing, if that’s your “thing.” There isn’t anything wrong with any hobby you might love to do. But it is wrong to put those hobbies before the relationships we share with people and God.
What if we swapped the word “her” in the lyrics and replaced it with “God?” The same is true with God. You can tell God (and everyone else) you love Him, but what’s your heart attitude on Sunday morning when it’s time to go to church? Are you eager to go and spend time with him? How much time do you spend reading God’s message, the Bible? How much time do you spend talking with Him in prayer? What’s your attitude when the offering plate is passed? How eager are you to tell others about Jesus and what’s He’s done for you?
Your heart belongs to what you treasure
When our priorities are out of whack, it’s hard for people to believe you care about them and it’s hard for God to accept it too. Anytime our words say one thing but our actions say something else, our words will not be believed. Jesus taught us that your heart truly belongs to what it most treasures. And what we treasure we prioritize.
Out of order priorities will identify idols
Since a disciple or follower of Jesus is to love God with all his heart (Deuteronomy 6:5), love for any material possessions, hobbies, games, sports, jobs, money, or anything else is a subtle form of idolatry when those things are loved more than we love God. Colossians 3:5 says, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The command to “put to death” refers to the practical outworking of seeking and thinking about heavenly things.
Paul’s list in this verse sums up five categories of earthly vices that can become idols when they become more important to us than God. The guy in the song lyrics had a passion for fishing, so, for him, fishing could be an idol in his life.
What are your priorities?
What would be the treasure of your heart? Are there any priorities you need to get back in control so that the greatest treasure of your heart is God? If God has revealed any priorities that are out of order or even an idol in your life, would you right now come humbly before God, confess it and set your priorities in the right order?
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Click here to listen to our devotions on Spotify be sure to follow us.
Visit our three retail experiences:
Bible study and Self Care Resources
Christian Tees, Bags, Mugs & More
We are an affiliate of CBD. We earn a commission on any purchase you make when you enter the store through this link. However, your CBD price is the same. Visit CBD for Bibles, Bible studies, gifts & more
Tee of the Week: All Things New
The new year brings the reminds that God makes all things new – including us as we place our faith and trust in Him. Just as a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly, God takes our old sinful beings and makes us a new creation in Him. Based on Rev 21:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. These two designs are on t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, mugs, bags, tumblers and more. Click the links to see all the available products in these two designs.
Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?
We’re offering 30% off our speaker fees as our gift to you if you book any 2022 event with us by December 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: CHRISTMAS2021.
We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.
904.239.8937
Visit our YouTube Channels for Christian playlists and our short animated devotionals.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
Scripture to memorize and meditate on
Conversation Starters
Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
Romance Builders
Relationship Builders
Personal reflections
Date ideas
Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Everything Christian for less!
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
In Acts 10, we find a picture of a man whom the Bible defines as a “devout man.” But this man wasn’t one a Jesus’ 12 disciples. In fact, he wasn’t even a Jew. Cornelius was a centurion in the Roman army. He lived at Caesarea. But this was a man who worshiped the one true God. While Roman soldiers had a reputation of extortion and brutalization of the local population, Cornelius treated the Jewish people with kindness and generosity.
Back at the very end of chapter 8 of Acts, we learn that Philip preached in all the cities until he came to Caesarea. So Christianity had already begun its spread to this area prior to us meeting Cornelius. Here in Acts 10, we find Cornelius is described as a devout man and we get a summary description of five things that tells us what a “devout man” looks like.
Defining “devout”
The word devout means, “having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment; total commitment to a cause or belief.” When the Bible says a person is devout, that person is careful to fulfill religious duties. This isn’t a person that is half-hearted in their faith. They aren’t the person that shows up at church just on Easter and Christmas. It isn’t even the person that shows up at church every Sunday morning. To be devout in our faith means we are “all in.” So Cornelius respected Jewish beliefs and customs, including the food laws and special days.
Five Characteristics of a Devout Man
1. A Devout Man Fears God
Fearing the Lord means to be in awe of his holiness, to give him complete reverence and to honor him in majesty, purity and power. We must acknowledge that God is merciful, loving, and kind. But He is also pure, holy, and just. Because He is pure, holy, and just, He will judge sin. Because He is merciful, loving, and king, He forgives our sins when we seek His forgiveness.
What Fearing God for the lost person is like:
A person lost in their sin has every right to fear the judgment of God. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death — eternal death. That’s the cost of dying physically without coming to faith in Christ who paid our sin debt for us. So the lost person who dies can expect to receive the wages they earned – eternal death in hell.
What Fearing God for the saved person is like:
However, for a person who has repented of sin and asked Jesus to forgive them, cleanse them, and invites Him to be their Savior, the fear of God has a very different meaning. For the believer, fear of God is having a reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.”
Deuteronomy 10 gives more details about what fearing God means and how we live out “fearing God” in our lives. Verses 12-13 says, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”
Jumping to verse 17, it says, “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” And then in verses 20-21, we read, “You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.” This is exactly what fearing God means for Christians.
Difference in being afraid of God and fearing God’s discipline:
When the Bible talks about fearing God, it includes reverence and respect, but we must also have an understanding of how much God hates sin and therefore have a fear of the judgment that sin brings when we die without surrendering our hearts to Jesus. Hell is real and every lost person should be terrified of an eternity spent there.
A Christian who sins can also expect God’s discipline. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child in love, so God will discipline His children. Discipline is meant to instruct, train, and teach. It is for guiding a person in the way they should live. Discipline isn’t fun, but it shapes us more into the image of Christ. But for the Christian, we do not have to be afraid because God disciplines out of His love and mercy. We also do not have to fear eternity being separated from God because we have the promise from God that nothing can separate us from His love and that He will never leave us or forsake us. So for the Christian, fearing God is respecting, obeying, submitting to God’s will, and worshiping the God of gods and Lord of lords who is mighty and awesome.
2. Cornelius’ entire household feared God.
In today’s words, we would say that Cornelius was a “spiritual leader” in his home. When a devout man fears God, his entire household takes notice and the devout man leads his household to know the God whom he loves and serves. It wasn’t enough for Cornelius to be a Christian. He led his entire house – his wife, children, grandchildren, servants – everyone who lived under his roof – to Christ. Then he led them to keep the commandments and statutes of God.
Cornelius was committed to his faith and diligent in his worship – and he saw that his household was too. He reverenced, respected, and honored God, and he taught his household to also do so. Cornelius was a man of prayer and fasting and he instilled this within the members of his household. He was a true spiritual leader in his home. A leader can’t be a leader if no one is following and here we find his entire household followed him.
3. A devout man gives generously
The Roman soldiers had a reputation of extortion and brutalization of the local population. But this Roman centurion gave generously to the people. He didn’t give out of what was left over every month. He gave generously. If there was a need, he helped meet that need. He listened as the Holy Spirit would say “give” and then he gave. He was kind – to the extent that in verse 4 we find that Cornelius has a vision with an angel of God who comes to him and says, “Cornelius! Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.” He gave generously – and God took notice.
Generosity catches the eye of God:
God always notices the actions of everyone, but I think here attention is drawn to it because we have someone doing something that is against the norm. While the other Roman soldiers were known for extorting and brutalizing the people, Cornelius does the opposite and he gave generously.
In my overactive imagination, I see a Roman soldier taunting a old widow woman who is giving her last coin to purchase bread and just as the bread is placed in her hand the Roman soldier snatches away, takes a big bite, and then tells the old woman how good it tastes. As he walks on still eating the bread he didn’t pay for, Cornelius quietly places several coins in the woman’s hand that will keep her fed for the month. He then learns where she lives and discreetly has a servant deliver meals to her home several times a week.
Now that’s not in the Bible – that’s just how I see it in my mind because he gave generously. He didn’t just give the woman a coin so she could get another loaf of bread. He didn’t just buy a loaf of bread and then hand it to the woman. Generously, to me, means he would have given her not only what was taken, but more than that.
4. Devout men prays always
1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says, “pray without ceasing.” That’s the idea here with Cornelius. In fact, as we keep reading in Acts 10, we find in verse 30 that Cornelius was fasting and praying. As a result of his praying, he has a vision and an angel of God appears to him to let him know his prayers have been heard. What was he praying for? We are not given the answer until verse 33 and the answer is the fifth characteristic of a devout man.
5. A Devout Man is Always Hungry to Know More about God.
In verse 33, Cornelius is explaining to Peter why Jesus spoke to him and sent Him to Caesarea. Cornelius says, “Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” And Peter begins to preach and teach Cornelius’ entire household about the things of God. The result was that the Holy Spirit fell on these Gentile converts in the same way He fell on the disciples.
What if Christian Men today were devout like Cornelius?
Men, as Christians, you have been called to be spiritual leaders in your home. You have been called to be devout. You have been set apart to fear God and to lead and teach your entire household to fear God. God wants you to be kind and generous out of the abundant blessings He has given you. You should be going about your life in an attitude of praying without ceasing – to always be seeking God’s wisdom and guidance and leading your home as God leads you. You are called to lead. But to be a leader, you must have followers. But where are you leading them? To eternal life or eternal death? Are you leading them closer to Jesus? Are you leading them to have an never-ending hunger for God?
If Christian men were like Cornelius, how would our world be different?
click here to listen to our daily devotions on Spotify and be sure to follow us.
Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?
We’re offering 15% off our speaker fees if you book by July 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: SUMMER2021.
We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.
904.239.8937
Help support our ministry:
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
Or enter a custom amount
$
Your contribution is appreciated and will help us grow and expand our ministry. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
[Download not found]
Download our Free Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.
When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
Conversation Starters.
Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
Romance Builders.
Relationship Builders.
Personal reflections.
Date ideas.
Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
Nehemiah was a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I at the capital city of Susa, which lay 150 miles east of the Tigris River in what is now modern Iran. He was a Jewish captive and served in the royal court as the king’s cupbearer. That fact that he, a Jew and captive, would serve the king in such a position of trust is a strong testament to Nehemiah’s character. His position also placed him in a position that was close to the king and allowed for him to ask favors of the king.
His name means, “Yahweh has comforted” and he is identified as the son of Hachaliah. He was a pivotal leader for the Jews in rebuilding the wall and turning the people back toward God. From the book of Nehemiah, we can learn from his example to gain wisdom in overcoming troubles and trusting in God. The book also demonstrate Nehemiah’s prayer life, leadership, and faithfulness.
The State of Jerusalem
Hanani, only identified as “one of my brethren” came from Judah and Nehemiah asked how the Jews were doing who had returned to Jerusalem. The reply is not good. They report that the survivors that were left there are in great distress and reproach. The walls around the city are broken and the gates were burned.
Nehemiah’s response
Nehemiah was upset by the report. So much so that he cried for “many days” and he fasted and prayed. He, like Ezra, humbled himself before God. His grief was so great that it became apparent to Artaxerxes and the king permitted him to go to Jerusalem.
What does Fasting do for prayer?
Nehemiah shows us how to pray to God and how to listen for his answers. In chapter one he spent a long time in prayer and fasting. Verse 4 says he sat down and wept, and mourned for may days while he fasted and prayed. Fasting demonstrates to God the depth of your desire for the thing you are praying about. It also releases His supernatural power. Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments. The Israelites fasted before a miraculous victory. Daniel fasted in order to receive guidance from God. Jesus fasted during His victory over temptation.
So what does fasting do for prayer? Throughout the Bible we see people fasting when they were facing a crisis, needed God’s protection or deliverance, when the recognized sin and came to God in repentance, when they need God’s guidance, and as an act of humbling themselves in worship. Most of the time, we fast when we reach a point of spiritual desperation and we want to turn our focus towards God as we seek Him in prayer. It is a time of looking within and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of sin or unsurrendered parts of our lives. It’s a time of doing spiritual business with God when our hearts are broken and we need to come home to the Father.
Nehemiah’s prayer
Fasting and prayer go hand-in-hand. And we find that Nehemiah not only weeps over the condition of Jerusalem and fasts, he also prays. His prayer consisted of four parts: 1) He glorified God by listing the Lord’s attributes. 2) He confessed sins of the people, as well as his own sins. 3) He trusted God to keep the promises He made to Moses to restore the people. 4) He asked for success before King Artaxerxes.
Using Nehemiah’s prayer as a model
Nehemiah interceded for his nation and we can do the same for our nation. As we realize the depth of our sin and how far we have strayed from God, our responses should be the same as Nehemiah’s. It should break our hearts so that we weep before God, fast and pray for America. We can use the same four parts of Nehemiah’s prayer as we pray for America.
Give God Glory
First, we can give God glory for the centuries where He has protected us, blessed us, and made us the great nation that we were. We can acknowledge God’s unchanging, holy attributes. The state of America today isn’t because God changed. It’s because we changed. We changed our focus from being God-centered to self-centered. Instead of “One nation under God,” we are “A divided nation under self.” We want to live our own way rather than God’s way and we shove His laws out of the way in an attempt to feel less guilt. Regardless – God is still God. He never changes and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is just as holy today as He has been every other moment of history. So we need to acknowledge His holiness and unchanging character.
Confess Sin
The part of Nehemiah’s prayer is one of confession. Very simply put in his prayer, he says, “We’ve sinned as a nation and I have sinned.” In praying for America, we need to acknowledge the sins of our nation – and they are many. As we confess the sins of our nation, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the sins of our nation and as they come to mind, confess them on behalf of our nation just as Nehemiah did for Israel. However, he didn’t stop with just the nation’s sins. He also acknowledge that his father’s house and he had sinned. We can also see that he doesn’t just say “Forgive our sins.” He states what those sins are. He names them as he confesses them.
Pray God’s Promises Back to Him
The third park of His prayer is to tell God about God’s promise to his people. In verse 8, he says, “Remember…” He wants God to remember the promises He made to Moses where God warned the nation that if they turned their backs on Him, He would scatter them among the nations and that is exactly what happened and where they are now – scattered. But God also promised that when they returned to Him He would gather them together again even from the farthest parts of the earth and bring them back to the land of promise.” Nehemiah wants God to now remember the second part of His promise and bring the people back.
There are no written promises in God’s Word regarding America specifically, yet there are promises that we can take to God. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” We can pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 back to God. While the verse is a promise for Israel, the principles for healing any land are still the same. We also know that God’s desire is that no one should die and go to hell, so we can pray for the lost to be saved. As you fast and pray, you should be spending time in God’s Word and has the Holy Spirit reveals verses that apply to our nation, pray those verses back to God.
Ask God to prosper us as we seek to be obedient in what He asks us to do.
The last thing Nehemiah prays for is that God would “prosper” him as he goes to the king to ask permission to return to Jerusalem. Nehemiah doesn’t just weep, fast, and pray – but He seeks out what God wants to Him to do and asks for God to pave the way for Him to be obedient. He puts actions to His prayers and steps up obediently. As a result, the wall will be rebuilt and Nehemiah helps to determine the future spiritual course of His nation as He leads them back to the Living God.
Praying for America
So what about us today? We need to start with the same broken heart that Nehemiah had. If your heart isn’t broken for the state of America, then start by asking God to break your heart for what breaks His. A broken heart brought before God is right where God steps up and does God-sized things. A broken heart is a humble heart and that is what we are focusing on this week as we get ready for a national day of fasting and prayer for America on July 5. Join us this week as seek to come before God, with broken and contrite hearts humbled before a holy God.
#Nehemiahsprayer #fastandpray #prayingforAmerica
click here to listen to our daily devotions on Spotify and be sure to follow us.
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
Or enter a custom amount
$
Your contribution is appreciated and will help us grow and expand our ministry. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
[Download not found]
Download our Free Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
Are you a person who stands in prayer for others on a consistent basis? Are you a person that people come to when they need prayer? If you know what it means to be an intercessor in prayer, then you’re a prayer warrior.
Prayer Warrior
The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.
Jesus is our Peace
Fight on my knees
Godfidence
Walk by faith
I’m only talking to Jesus today
Known Loved Worthy Enough Chosen Child of God
Grace wins
Living for the world to see Jesus
Way Maker
Walk by Faith
Script Unstoppable God
Print Unstoppable God
Unstoppable Force
Steps of a Good Man
Something New
Seek and Find
Revive Us Again
Resist the Devil
Raise a Hallelujah
Beloved- Mr and Mrs
Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan
Man of God
He Left 99 for Me
Cast All Your Cares
Giants
Faith over Fear
Don’t Worry
Faith Can Move Mountains
Don’t Quit
Created to Praise
All things are Possible
What the Lord Requires
All Things New
Anything is possible
With my song I will praise Him
Names of God
All things are possible
Run with perseverance
Blessings head to toe-hearts
Revive us again, Lord
Isaiah 41:13
Blessings head to toe – roses
Jeremiah 29:11
Blessings head to toe
Be Still
Blessings head to toe – floral
God’s starting point
Revive us Again
God bless the USA
Just Pray
Battle Isn’t Over
Critics don’t define God’s calling on your life
Chosen and Loved
Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.
All thing new
Amazing Grace Sunset
Armor of God
Amazing Grace
As the Deer
Be still and know
Come thou Fount
Jeremiah 29:11
Look to the Lord
Lord is my Rock
New Mercies
Pray
Redeemed
Seek and Find
Wings like Eagles
Stand Firm
Teach the way of Wisdom
New Song
Prayer of Blessing
To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints
Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube
Click here for the Contemporary Christian Playlist
Click here for the Southern Gospel Playlist
Or Click here for the Hymns Playlist
You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
Conversation Starters.
Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
Romance Builders.
Relationship Builders.
Personal reflections.
Date ideas.
Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the English Standard Version at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
[Download not found]
#ReadYourBible #Deuteronomy #Luke
Why is daily Bible reading important?
Bible Reading is vitally important to growing spiritually and keeping our spiritual selves full. God wants us to hide His Word in our hearts, meditate on it and apply it to our lives. When we have a plan, we are more likely to follow through. Here are eight reasons you should have a daily Bible Reading plan:
We can find His will for our lives
Bible reading is our spiritual nourishment
It helps us be able to discern the thoughts and intents of our heart.
The Bible instructs us in righteousness
It gives us power to overcome trials, heartaches, and sin
God gives us many promises, but you won’t know them unless you read about them, memorize them, and know if it’s a promise intended for us today
God reveals Himself to us and we learn about Him which strengthens our relationship with Him
He also speaks to us through His Word.
Don’t miss what God has to say to you today. It’s time to practice spiritual self-care and read your Bible!
Practice Spiritual Self care and dig into God’s Word today to berevived and renewed!
Let’s start a pandemic of blessings by praying a blessing over everyone you meet. Our “Blessings” design is meant to do just that. We’ve created this design in four different choices.
