While Reading “On that same day, as the Book of Moses was being read to the people, the passage was found that said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be permitted to enter the assembly of God.” Nehemiah 13:1 (NLT) Something powerful happens when we read God’s Word with an open heart: God speaks to…
Pure Lies “I replied, ‘There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.’ They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.” Nehemiah 6:8–9 (NLT) While Nehemiah was rebuilding the…
Decide “Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, ‘The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!’” Nehemiah 4:19–20 (NLT) In…
Use the Wisdom “And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.” Ezra 7:25 (NKJV) Wisdom is a gift from God,…
Evaluating Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. Ezra 6:1 (NLT) Wisdom isn’t just about acting quickly—it’s about acting correctly. King Darius gives us a remarkable leadership lesson: before making a decision, he investigated the facts. Rather than reacting to rumors…
God Changes the Scene On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. Esther 9:1 (NKJV) The book of Esther is a powerful testimony of how God can step into the most critical moments and reverse situations…
I Will Not Be Hanged So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided. Esther 7:10 (NKJV) The story of Haman and Mordecai is a powerful reminder of how God protects His people. Driven by hatred and pride, Haman built a gallows to destroy the righteous….
Wisdom and Discretion Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. Esther 2:10 (NKJV) This verse reveals a powerful principle that often gets overlooked in a culture where everything is shared with everyone: discretion. Esther was wise to follow Mordecai’s counsel—not because she had something to…
He Acted Recklessly When He Drank Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. Daniel 5:1 (NKJV) The story of King Belshazzar reveals how dangerous it can be to lose sobriety—not just physical sobriety, but also spiritual and emotional clarity. Blinded…
God Fulfills When I Obey And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments.” Daniel 9:4 (NKJV) Daniel’s prayer is both profound and revealing. He acknowledges that…