Day 148: Neh 9:1 - 11:17

I can't help but wonder what it would've been like to be with this group of people as they began their journey back to being the people that God called them to be and doing the things that God told them to do. In books like this one, there isn't a whole lot of information regarding specific things they did and whether or not they did everything absolutely perfect and to the letter, but I would like to imagine that there was probably somewhat of a learning curve that they had to overcome before they were able to live the way that God wanted them to. It seems there are alot of people out there today who don't want to come back to God simply because they don't think that they can start out being perfect like they think they're supposed to. We must always remember that we serve a merciful God and He doesn't expect us to be perfect before we've even started following Him. As long as those people are willing and ready to allow their lives to be changed, All they have to do is come to God with a desire to be changed, and He will do the rest.

- Father, help me to always communicate Your grace to those willing and ready to be changed. Help me to remember that we can't "clean them before we catch them," but if we will be faithful to catch them and they will be willing to change, that You will be faithful to grab hold of them and totally and completely rearrange their lives and point them towards You and what You've called them to. -