AN INSPIRING STORY OF REDEMPTION, FAMILY, FAITH

 FROM RONNIE GOTZON, a Vietnam era veteran and his very close 18 year old cousin Tommy Becker was a day that would change both their lives and subsequently affect their families forever: “It was 1969 ,both young men were in the Army. Tommy had his orders to go to Viet Nam. I just got my orders to go over seas. This happened within a few weeks of each other. We both shook as we sat at our grand parents table knowing we will be sent to south east Asia very soon. When Tommy left for another part of the world in Vietnam, I was standing in line with his orders to replace one 82nd paratrooper in Dakhow Southeast Asia.

I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and loving-kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned…..Nehemiah 1:4-11

There are so many great prayers in the Bible, they can fill many books and sermons about their content, meaning and message. One of the greatest leaders and men of God of all time, is Nehemiah, the first Governor of the Judean district (where Jerusalem was) after the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah was chosen by God to rebuild the city after the remnant of the Jewish people had withstood 70 years in exile, in pagan Babylon. As Nehemiah began to rebuild the wall, he faced a lot of opposition, taunts and real enemies from people like Sanballat, Tobiah and their Arab friend. Still Nehemiah and the faithful remnant stayed focus on rebuilding their portion of the wall (read the rest of the Book of Nehemiah), while keeping a vigilant eye open for danger. This is a great example for God’s people for all time about practical living in the face of evil while persevering.

This entire prayer of Nehemiah’s, to the Lord (see verses 4-11 above) stand out as one of the most powerful in all Scriptures, as the Lord not only granted victory but did it in a spectacular way.  So what was it about this was so powerful that the Lord my God responded with overwhelming victorious response. Let us briefly look at how Nehemiah wasted no time or word and was both practical and proactive in his methodology of praying.

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