"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven..." (Nehemiah 1:4)
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As we are entering into the holiday season, I know that for many of us, the holidays bring mixed emotions. While we may be rejoicing and enjoying the close ties with family and friends near and those who travel from far, there is a twinge of sadness as well. There are those who are no longer present at our holiday tables, those who will no longer be there to open gifts or share in holiday traditions.
There are also those who are separated by distance from families and loved ones, like our military personnel, and yes, the missionaries. So, while we are all celebrating and enjoy the blessings of entering into another holiday season, I take a moment to be thankful...for those who think of others.
I'm thankful for the encouragers. You know who you are. You write us notes, to tell us you are praying for us. You send us church bulletins and updates from your ministries. You send us cards for our birthdays, and packages for Christmas. You hold our family up in prayer. Thank you for your sacrifices for those of us who serve the Lord here.
May we be reminded to reach out to others who are much closer by. This holiday season, let's be encouragers, to those who are hurting through the holidays.
I have been so encouraged reading through Nehemiah these past few days. What a daunting task he faced, and what a tender heart the Lord gave him through this project. Here are a few of my "gleanings" from the beginning of the book.
Nehemiah already had a burden for God's people. Nehemiah may have been far removed physically from the Jerusalem and the Jewish people left there, but that didn't mean that he had forgotten about them. As soon as someone came from Jerusalem, his heart was burdened for the welfare of those left behind: "That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem." (Nehemiah 1:2) People who are great encouragers care about the needs of other people. How do we know how to fully enter into the sufferings of someone else, if we stay ignorant of their condition? To fully encourage others, we need to stay informed of their current situation.
Nehemiah was moved when he heard about the sufferings of God's people. When we truly love God's people like God does, our hearts should not be unmoved at the sufferings of others. Hanani related how the "remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." (Nehemiah 1:3) What was Nehemiah's reaction to this news? "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven..." (Nehemiah 1:4) May God help us always to have a tender heart toward those in difficult times, especially those in the household of faith.
Nehemiah's burden for God's people resulted in fervent prayer. So many times when we hear about great needs, especially the needs of God's people and those closest to us, our first reaction is, "What can I do?" Then, in a flurry of activity, we create a program, tell the church, announce our burden on Facebook, and get busy "doing." Nehemiah's heart was burdened, and while he does "get busy," first he gets down...on his knees, to the Lord. His prayer to God will be the subject for tomorrow's post, but before taking action, he was reminded to talk to the One who has everything in control: God. All my best efforts, even when properly motivated and well-meaning, will fall short if God is not leading them.
Nehemiah's burden for others is such an example of Christian love in action. He heard about a need, was moved in his heart, and then took the burden that the Lord laid on his heart back to the Lord in prayer. How can I be an encouragement to others, today?
- Listen. Sometimes we think that people don't really want to talk about their problems. What people don't want, is to feel like they are not really being heard. To listen to others means to put aside our own concerns, even our desire to "fix" the problem, and just listen. How many times I have been encouraged, when someone (usually my husband) takes the time to "hear me out." It may take some false starts, pauses, tears, and time, but listening is the first step to understanding the problems of others.
- Listen...with God's ears. Sometimes someone else's sufferings may not seem like a "big deal" in our eyes, but they are very real to the person who is sharing. Ask God to give you a burden to "hear" the need of the person who is going through a rough time. Pray and ask God to help you "enter into" the sufferings of the person, and give you compassion for their need.
- Pray before speaking or acting. How many times have I "opened mouth, inserted foot," because I spoke too hastily or without praying? If only I will slow down, my words will be God's words. Only then can I bless, and know what I should say.
May God help each one of us, to be His encouragers during this holiday season, and everyday.
Who are the encouragers in your life? Feel free to leave a comment below.
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