THE UNITY of A NATION IN PRAYER & FASTING
Victory parades are pompous affairs with great displays of jubilation and celebration. We reward ourselves after a job well done or a goal accomplished. Nehemiah and the Israelites had just finished the restoration of the city walls in miraculous time. They celebrated by becoming more humble.
Today is day 11 of our YWAP Fast. On January 25 our fast will be over and we will celebrate and pray some more. We probably won't be wearing any sackcloth or put dust on our heads, but that's how folks back in the days of Nehemiah celebrated. They gave glory to God, set themselves apart, admitted their sinfulness and repented. "On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the Lord their God." Nehemiah 8:1-3 HCSB
Being humble before God lights a fire of repentance in your spirit that burns away the chaff of sinfulness. Sackcloth was kind of like a burlap sack. Folks wore sackcloth as a sign of mourning, grieving and submission. Nehemiah and friends were submitting and surrendering themselves totally to God.
Putting dust on their heads was another way of humbling themselves. Putting dust and ashes on their heads was common throughout the Bible. We are made out of dust by God and bodies will return to dust one day.
The Israelites were not afraid to separate themselves. They stood out and made a public display of their humility. This wasn't a way to call attention to themselves, they were calling attention to God. Unity in humility brings people together in the holiness of God.
On January 20, 2021 in the City of Flagstaff, a group of folks will come together and pray. On the 17th day of our fast, we will come together in the middle of the city and invite others to pray. We will offer to pray for anyone who passes by. America and its people need a humble fire of repentance. Maybe if we humble ourselves and pray, God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.
DAY 11 WORD
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 HSBC
Unity Through Humility
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11 HCSB
DAY 11 PRAYER
Thank You God for showing us the way to humility and unity through the cross of Your Son. He laid down His life. He sacrificed everything so that we may live. He esteemed us as higher than Himself so that we could be forgiven and find eternal peace with You. Help us find ways to greater humbleness, be it in public or private. Help us usher in an era of repentance in our nation as we humble turn to You. Forgive us as we have sinned against You. Amen.
DAY 11 DEEP THOUGHTS
The Israelites built a wall by the hand of God. Our Nation was built by the hand of God. Our walls of unity are crumbling, if not not destroyed altogether. God's hand will return upon us only through our acts of humbleness.
Today is day 11 of our YWAP Fast. On January 25 our fast will be over and we will celebrate and pray some more. We probably won't be wearing any sackcloth or put dust on our heads, but that's how folks back in the days of Nehemiah celebrated. They gave glory to God, set themselves apart, admitted their sinfulness and repented. "On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the Lord their God." Nehemiah 8:1-3 HCSB
Being humble before God lights a fire of repentance in your spirit that burns away the chaff of sinfulness. Sackcloth was kind of like a burlap sack. Folks wore sackcloth as a sign of mourning, grieving and submission. Nehemiah and friends were submitting and surrendering themselves totally to God.
Putting dust on their heads was another way of humbling themselves. Putting dust and ashes on their heads was common throughout the Bible. We are made out of dust by God and bodies will return to dust one day.
The Israelites were not afraid to separate themselves. They stood out and made a public display of their humility. This wasn't a way to call attention to themselves, they were calling attention to God. Unity in humility brings people together in the holiness of God.
On January 20, 2021 in the City of Flagstaff, a group of folks will come together and pray. On the 17th day of our fast, we will come together in the middle of the city and invite others to pray. We will offer to pray for anyone who passes by. America and its people need a humble fire of repentance. Maybe if we humble ourselves and pray, God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.
DAY 11 WORD
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 HSBC
Unity Through Humility
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11 HCSB
DAY 11 PRAYER
Thank You God for showing us the way to humility and unity through the cross of Your Son. He laid down His life. He sacrificed everything so that we may live. He esteemed us as higher than Himself so that we could be forgiven and find eternal peace with You. Help us find ways to greater humbleness, be it in public or private. Help us usher in an era of repentance in our nation as we humble turn to You. Forgive us as we have sinned against You. Amen.
DAY 11 DEEP THOUGHTS
The Israelites built a wall by the hand of God. Our Nation was built by the hand of God. Our walls of unity are crumbling, if not not destroyed altogether. God's hand will return upon us only through our acts of humbleness.
- Stand apart, kneel in humility, accept our unity in sin. We're all together in this fight against ourselves and the powers and principalities out to destroy us.
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