5Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God 6and prayed:
“I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.
8“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm placea in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage (Ezra 9)
Thoughts: Ezra was a great man of God. He and his people had been extremely humbled. Their Temple, the symbol of their God was destroyed. Their city walls were broken down. After 7 years in exile a remnant was back in the land trying to rebuild, but some said their efforts weren't as great as what they used to have. Ezra accepted his humility and called out to God, still trusting in Him. We are to always trust in God- in good and bad times. God will see us through the valleys as well as the mountaintops.
Prayer: Lord, in my humility and crosses, help me to trust in your resurrection. Keep me ever trusting you.
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