What Should I Say?

Hey there and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading titled what should I say was written by Jennifer Vincent showed when I stopped to browse through a box of books marked CS Lewis at a used bookshop.

The store owner appeared as we chatted about the available titles. I wondered if he might be interested in the fate that inspired much of Lewis's writing. I prayed silently for guidance information from the biography came to mine and we began to discuss how CS Lewis's character pointed to God in the end, I was thankful that a quick prayer had reoriented our conversation to spiritual matters. Nehemiah pause to pray before pivotal moment in a conversation with King Artaxerxes in Persia, the king asked how he could help Nehemiah who was distraught over Jerusalem's destruction. Nehemiah was the king's servant, and therefore in no position to ask for favors, but he needed one.

A big one. He wanted to restore Jerusalem so he prayed to the God of heaven before asking to leave his job so he could reestablish the city.

The king consented and even agreed to help Nehemiah make travel arrangements and procure timber for the project. The Bible encourages us to pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. This includes moments when we need courage, self-control or sensitivity, praying before we speak helps us give God control of our attitude and our words, how might he want to direct your words today asking and find out today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Nehemiah chapter 2 verses one through six. In the month of Nicaea and in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him. I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me why does your face look so sad when you're not ill. This can be nothing but sadness of heart. I was very much afraid, but I said to the king made a king live forever. Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire. The king said to me, what is it you want.

Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the king if it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it. Then the king with the Queen sitting beside him, asked me how long will your journey take and when will you get back. It pleased the king to send me so I set a time. Let's pray dear God, we pray that the words we speak are given just the right moment and with just the right heart so often we struggle with saying too much at the wrong time to give us the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent.

Use what we say to bring glory to your name. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Thanks for listening today I'm Tony Collier and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries