Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
This is Nehemiah's greeting. It is just the beginning of a prayer. I don't know if you've ever really listened to kids pray. All of my kids when they were younger—I don't know what it is, I didn't teach them to pray this way—but they all began their prayers the same way, and it was, "Dear God," like they were going to write a letter to Him or something. As they get older, you listen to how that greeting changes. How do you begin your prayers? I begin always with "Father in heaven," but you can greet God in prayer a number of different ways. We have an example here from Nehemiah.
Nehemiah's Prayer
Nehemiah was a great leader who was burdened to rebuild the destroyed city of Jerusalem, starting with the wall around Jerusalem. After he hears about the dilapidated shape the city he loved was in, he calls out to God in prayer. That's what you're reading here in the beginning of this book. This is the very beginning of that prayer: "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 commandments."
Understanding Covenant
I have to talk for a minute about that word covenant. It's one of the most beautiful words in your Bible, but it's a word that we hardly ever use. Let me give you a working definition of a covenant. A covenant is an unending relationship between two people or parties who have made promises to one another. That's a covenant. We're told here and elsewhere that God has promised His people unfailing love, and God's people have promised love and obedience.
Remember Matthew chapter 22, verse 37? The Pharisees asked Jesus, "What's the most important commandment?" And Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul." Then Jesus said in John chapter 14, verse 21, "He who loves Me"—here's what love looks like—"He who loves Me will obey My commands. He it is that loves Me." Love and obedience is our part of the covenant. God's promise is unfailing love.
The Covenant Keeper
Here's the most important part of this verse. Don't miss it. Who keeps the covenant? Who makes sure that this covenant is never, ever broken? The answer is God. Thank God for that. God keeps the covenant. His love is unfailing and our response is love and obedience. Our love and obedience is not a precondition for God's unfailing love. No, it is a response to God's unfailing love. He is our covenant keeper.
An Invitation to Pray
I want to invite you to consider setting aside some time to pray today. When you do, begin your prayer today the way Nehemiah began his prayer in chapter 1, verse 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."