Matthew 16:15-16
“What about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
What of Today’s Verse…
There is no other name under heaven that can save us (Acts 4:12). We are to confess Jesus before others, and when we do we are assured that he confesses us before the Father in heaven. We may not know all the theological import behind those words — after all, Peter didn’t at the time — but we can make a commitment to know him and follow him until we do.
Let us Pray:
Living God and Holy Father, I believe you sent Jesus as your Son to save me. I confess to you that I want Jesus to be Lord of my life because I believe him to be your Son and my Saviour. It is through your Son; the Christ promised in Scripture, that I pray. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Nehemiah’s example…
With little time to think, Nehemiah prayed to God. Eight times in this book we read that he offered a spontaneous prayer. Nehemiah prayed at any time, even while talking with others. He knew that God is always present, always in charge, always listening, and always ready to answer.
Nehemiah could confidently pray to God throughout the day because he had established an intimate relationship with him during times of extended prayer. If we want to be confident about our brief prayers, we need to take time to cultivate a strong relationship with God through times of in-depth prayer.
What can I learn from Nehemiah?
When I heard how things were going in Jerusalem, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, and the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. — Nehemiah 1:4-6
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please Your majesty and if you are pleased with me, send me to Judah to rebuild the city when my ancestors are buried.” — Nehemiah 2:4-5
