ECIPLESHIP for Passionate Christ-Followers

What happens to us if God’s gracious hand is upon us?

In reading a portion of Nehemiah this morning, Susan and I were both taken be the repeated phrase, “the gracious hand of God was upon me.” In fact, before that ever happened, Nehemiah prayed feverishly for days that God’s hand would be upon him when he would eventually ask a favor of the king.

When God’s gracious hand was upon Nehemiah:

• God granted him favor in the eyes of those had power and authority over his life.
• Nehemiah’s selfless prayers were answered.
• He was given courage in precarious and dangerous situations.
• He was successful in garnering support and enthusiasm for His God-honoring goals.
• He accomplished great things for God.

This, of course, is only a sampling of what happened to Nehemiah when the “gracious hand of God” was upon him.

Ezra, also involved in the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, speaks often of “the gracious hand of God,” — with many of the same affects and more. Because God’s gracious hand was upon Ezra:

• The king gave him everything he asked for.
• He arrived safely in Jerusalem after a rugged and dangerous journey of hundreds of miles.
• He was encouraged.
• The help he needed for his great task was provided for unexpectedly.
• He was protected from danger and enemies intent on destroying him.

What a difference God’s hand makes! I want that…

Ezra and Nehemiah found God’s gracious hand upon them because:

• They were godly through in through.
• They lived for God’s purposes no matter what it cost them–and in fact, this very thing changed the complete the nature of life for them.
• They pleaded in prayer for God’s favor and help.
• They worshiped with selfless abandon.
• They lived with remarkable courage, trusting in the sufficiency of God to provide what they never could.

Come to think of it, why would I want to live without God’s gracious hand upon me? What a life God is waiting to give us, what a cause God is eager to have us succeed in, what an impact in our world He is waiting to wreak through us.

Find His hand…