We are valued - we are all valued...
not because of what we say...
but because of what God says...
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; and God blessed them. And God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good. Genesis 1
We are valued - we are all valued...
not because of what we do...
But because of what God did...
For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
We are valued - we are all valued...
not because of how we respond...
But because of how Jesus showed us to respond...
Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39
Dear friends, like yours, my heart is heavy for our nation, for our people, for families that are mourning today. What do we do? What can we do? Where do we turn? Never do I believe a trite answer of... just pray... is appropriate.
What I firmly believe is the unmistakable answer is ... we MUST pray. I've just finished reading the book of Daniel... you know the stories - the lions' den, the fiery furnace... the 10 days of only eating vegetables...
As I read through these 12 chapters, there is certainly an intentional thread that runs through Daniel's life... he simply MUST pray.
He prayed consistently in times of mundane, in times of uncertainty, in times of desperation, in times of fear, in times of thanksgiving... He prayed.
All that we read about Daniel... I would categorize him in the righteous group, for sure. He was obedient to God, he was seeking God, he was faithful.
Daniel prayed in chapter 9 for God's forgiveness. His people had sinned, had turned from God, had been wicked, had not listened. Daniel's prayer is powerful... for his wise words, for his fervent thinking, but what has gripped me more that any of that... His humility.
"Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, WE have sinned and one wrong. WE have been wicked and have rebelled; WE have turned away from your commands and laws...
Would you join me in praying from Daniel's words in Daniel chapter 9:3-18 -
realizing our circumstances are not the same... but realizing OUR need for the understanding of God' love and our response through repentance are...
Daniel 9:3-18English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us,[a] by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lordour God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,[b] make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.