Day 251..."Nehemiah's prayer...Growth in desolation...an apology in jail"

Nehemiah sees the destruction of Jerusalem following exile and weeps. This led him to a beautiful prayer..."let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” I love the words in Nehemiah chapter 2..."“Let us rise up and build.” What is so amazing is this was said at the scene of devastation! Isaiah offers hope in the face of barreness..." “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities." Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes...what beautiful images of growth and hope! Paul and Timothy are both converting people including one who bugged Paul to death. This leads to their inprisonment. After realizing Paul has extraordinary power through God, they wanted to release him quietly...Paul says no. He demands release out the front door. Paul receives an unlikely apology. Another amazing story!