You Have Been Faithful
In What You Have Done
"Our God, you
are great, mighty and wonderful. You keep the covenant you made with us. You
show us your love. So don't let all of our suffering seem like a small thing in
your sight. We've suffered greatly. So have our kings and leaders. So have our
priests and prophets. Our people who lived long ago also suffered. And all of
your people are suffering right now. In fact, we've been suffering from the
time of the kings of
"In spite of
everything that has happened to us, you have been fair. You have been faithful
in what you have done. But we did what was wrong. Our kings and leaders didn't
follow your law. Our priests and our people before us didn't follow it either.
They didn't pay any attention to your commands. They didn't listen to the
warnings you gave them. They didn't serve you. They didn't turn from their evil
ways. They didn't obey you even when they had a kingdom. You were very good to
them. And they enjoyed it. You gave them a rich land. It had plenty of room in
it. But they still didn't serve you.
"Now look at us.
We are slaves today. We're slaves in the land you gave our people long ago. You
gave it to them so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it
produces. But we have sinned against you. So its great harvest goes to the
kings of
Nehemiah
9:32-37
Abundance is no
guarantee of gratefulness or thanksgiving. Prosperity may even turn our hearts
away from the Lord.
When a group of
Jewish exiles returned from
Confession is a powerful
prelude to a prayer of thanksgiving. Obedience is the Amen.
Confession
opens the door to thanksgiving.
Our Daily Bread –