Devotionals

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‘Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,’....Nehemiah 2:2 KJV

As I was reading the second chapter of Nehemiah this morning, the Holy Spirit stopped me there at verse 2 above.

In today's fast, unending fast pace of life do we ever stop to think of those around us with ‘sorrow of heart’ or the sorrow in your own heart?

It is easy to discount and dismiss so easily for they cannot be seen as say a broken leg. Yet, here in verse 2, this wise king Artaxerxes, had such a heart of understanding and compassion towards Nehemiah. There is much to glean from this verse.

The king immediately saw that his cupbearer Nehemiah had something so great troubling him, that someone else would have mistaken it for sickness of body or mind. The king’s heart was open, he cared about Nehemiah. Is this not so with our King Jesus? Jesus knows us intimately, better than we know ourselves.

‘Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.’ Psalms 139:2

There be many around you right now, friends, close friends, family who think they know you, but somehow miss the mark. They perhaps mistake a sad look as self-pity, attention seeking or at best a physical ailment. The world would say “get a life!” and sad to say a lot of Christians would declare something equally superficial and unjust.

Not so with Jesus…

‘The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit’ Psalms 34:18

Having come through years of deep depression under the so called ‘care’ of mental health practitioners, they never in all the years understood or even fully comprehended the root cause of my debilitating sorrow. In my case this was years of continual abuse as a child, even into the years of my adult life.

Know this truth, Jesus takes your inner wounds seriously. He values your life because He created you. He listens to you, He wants you to go to Him because He loves you and cares for you.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Notice Nehemiah was in the presence of his king. It was an honoured personal position. This king had a tender disposition towards Nehemiah and knew each other intimately. Day in and day out Nehemiah was in the presence of the king. This is the key.

Being in the daily presence of Jesus cultivates a very close relationship, one of love, wisdom, a deep care that no man can give. This too I have learned.

Psalm 16:11... David knew that ‘fullness of joy’ only comes by being in the presence of God.

There was a time I didn't understand this. I didn't comprehend the nature of intimate loving relations, all I knew was fear, because of my abuse as a child. I still struggle but praise God I am not where I was!

I was afraid to go to Jesus, just as perhaps Nehemiah was afraid

‘Then I was very sore afraid,’ … v2

It has taken over 30 years for God to show and actively love me without condemnation to know without a doubt that His love is true. Yes, He has had to correct me but it was in love, in truth, but always in great tenderness.

Jesus draws you nearer no matter where you have been or what you have done.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”...Luke 5:32

I want to encourage you today to draw closer to Jesus; He is not angry with you He is not mad at you. He truly loves you beyond anything you can imagine. God is love.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3

Look to Jesus, no one else. Turn to Jesus for all your needs. Those deep hidden wounds only that onlyJesus can heal.

Yes you might be afraid, just as Nehemiah was, but he opened his heart and mouth and poured out his concern.

Whatever is in your heart today know that Jesus is always waiting in the wings to hear from you. The Father is waiting to embrace you. The Holy Spirit longs to Comfort you.

I thank God so much that he never gave up on me even when I thought there was no hope for me. There is always hope with God, always!

‘Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost’…..Romans 15:13

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