Focusing Our Vision

As you prepare for our worship I encourage you to watch the video, read the Scripture and reflect on the three questions.

Scripture Reading:

“Nehemiah 1:4   When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:5 Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,

Nehemiah 1:6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!

Nehemiah 1:7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

Nehemiah 1:8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.

Nehemiah 1:9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’

Nehemiah 1:10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.

Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.”” (Nehemiah 1:4–11 NLT-SE)

“Nehemiah 2:11   So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, Nehemiah 2:12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. Nehemiah 2:13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. Nehemiah 2:14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. Nehemiah 2:15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.” (Nehemiah 2:11–15 NLT-SE)

Reflection Questions:

1. What is Nehemiah’s response to what he had heard from his friends (versus 1:4-11)?
2. What is the significance of what Nehemiah does when he gets to Jerusalem (Verses 2:11-15)?
3. How can we live a focused life in today's world?