We Prayنموونە

Your Native Homeland

The Games of the XXXI Olympiad, or commonly known as the 2016 Olympics, hosts 10,500 athletes representing 206 nations. The games feature 28 Olympic sports and award 306 sets of medals. Do you get tears in your eyes or a swelling in your chest when your home country wins a medal?

How about when your national anthem is played as your country’s flag ascends the flagpole? Do you sense a national honor or pride? Nehemiah possessed a deep Jewish soul mindset for his native homeland - God’s promised land - back in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah felt strongly about God’s people and city. What a wonderful lesson for us to long for becoming a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).” Is your heart set on heaven and the kingdom of God?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, just as Nehemiah had a strong devotion and connection with his Jewish heritage, may you also allow me a sense of connection to your holy nation that I too may recognize the need for prayer for your chosen people. In Jesus' Name, Amen.