A time to Pray, a time to take action

Ezra 10:1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him. ² Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. ³ Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. ⁴ Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

There are so many things about this passage that I love.  I don't know about you, but I know there have been times when I have blown it, really messed things up, times that have brought me to my knees weeping and confessing to God.  Wondering, will God really forgive me this time?  Is this too big, have I messed up too many times?  Times when I knew better and still sinned.  Have you ever had times like that?  Times of unfaithfulness to God.  

But as I read this passage, I read at the end of verse two, "but in spite of this there is hope."  What a comfort, to know that there is indeed hope, no matter how badly we have blown it, there is still hope for us, that hope comes in the form of Jesus Christ.  Jesus died to give us that hope.  Jesus promise to us is, if we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

But it doesn't just stop at "hope" the people of Israel move immediately into action.  They repented of their sins.  Repenting is to make a 180 degree turn away from sin, and that is what you see them willing to do.  They also seek Godly advise from Ezra, and others who respect the commands of God.  I have to confess there are times, when I will confess my sins to God in private, but seek Godly advise?  You mean let someone else know what I have done?  Wow, that is a much harder thing for me.  I know I'm not perfect, and I know others know that too, but to let them know just how far away from perfection I am?  But sometimes we need to seek advise, but not just from anyone, no we seek advise from someone who respects the commands of God.  This can be crucial.  

I know they say that "misery loves company", and speaking as a woman, I have had to be careful whom I seek advise from.  Believe me, when things are not going right, it is easy as women to commiserate with one another and see only one side of things.  It reminds me of the seen in the movie Fireproof where the lead character is complaining to her girlfriends about her husband, and of course her girlfriends are all taking her side and seeing only what her husband was doing wrong.  So again, it is crucial, when seeking advise that you seek it from someone who respects the commands of God.

And finally the time for prayer comes to an end.  And now comes the time to be strong and take action.  Do you know that person, or are you maybe that person that can pray about the same thing forever, even after God has told you what to do?  I know people like that, even when things are clear and God's direction is clear they will tell you, well I'm praying about it.  Praying is good and we should pray without ceasing, but don't let prayer become an excuse not to act.  

For there is a time to pray and a time to take action.  What do you need to take action on right now?

Please leave me your comments and prayer requests.  
God Bless.