Over
the summer months during the midweek Bible study & prayer meeting
our church is studying Nehemiah – a man of prayer and action. The walls
of Jerusalem were broken and the city left in devastation and
unprotected. This caused Nehemiah great distress and brought him to his
knees in prayer for many days. He was so earnest in seeking God that he
also went without food. God heard his prayer and gave Nehemiah the
opportunity to be part of the answer to his prayer. Nehemiah was given
permission to leave Persia (where he was in captivity serving king
Artaxerxes) and go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. He was given what
he needed for the task. Nehemiah sought to repair what was broken.
Today
we live in a broken world; many of us live in a society which is broken
and come face to face, at time, with people whose lives are broken. Is
this a burden for us which we need to bring before the Lord? Is He
asking us to pray and if He so wills, to be part of the answer to our
prayers. The work was not easy for Nehemiah; he met with opposition but
he al-ways brought everything to the Lord in prayer. If we are seeking
to reach out to the brokenness around us it will not be easy, but the
Lord's ear is always open to hear our prayer, and just as He granted
success to Nehemiah so He will grant success to us also.
The
walls which had been broken were rebuilt and people who had turned away
from God were reformed – it's all in the book of Nehemiah – read it and
see for yourselves. The work was accomplished because, „the people
worked with all their heart’ (Neh.4:6) and because God heard and
answered Nehemiah's prayer.As you read this issue of News & Views
you will find in it stories of women who are working „with all their
heart' for the Lord and His kingdom. They are working to repair the
brokenness around them in Europe and further afield. God has touched
their hearts and it is incumbent upon them to give themselves and what
resources they have, small or great, to Him. Read the articles and
praise God for what He is doing through ordinary women dedicated to Him.
Let
us also endeavour to repair the things that are broken by reaching out
in Jesus' name to the broken of heart, of spirit, of soul, of body.
Ultimately it is the Lord Who heals and repairs but oh the joy of being
involved with Him in this repairing work.
May the Lord bless you, speak to you and move you as you read this magazine.
Margaret Brown
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