OUR DAILY BREAD             Sunday, July 9, 1995    
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READ:  Ezra 8:21-35

                
                  PRAYER, WORK, AND PRAISE

              "We fasted and entreated our God
            for this, and He answered our prayer."

                                -- Ezra 8:23


A 12-year-old Haitian girl's feet were so deformed that
she was actually walking on her ankles.  She asked some
missionaries if they could help her, but the girl's
father, who looked to a voodoo priest for advice, 
refused to let the doctors operate.

So the missionaries began to pray fervently that God
would intervene.  After 2 days, the father returned
with his daughter and gave them permission for the
surgery.  Just before the operation, the youngster
pointed to her heart and said, "I'm not afraid, because
I put Jesus right here."  The operation was successful,
and all who knew about this situation are praising the 
Lord for His answer to prayer.

We see a similar order of events in Ezra 8.  The
Israelites had to transport a large quantity of gold
and silver to Jerusalem.  This made them vulnerable
to raids by outlaw gangs along the way.  So the 
people fasted and prayed until they received assurance
of God's protection.  Then, after taking every
precaution, they set out on their journey.  Arriving
safely in Jerusalem, they offered sacrifices of
thanksgiving to the Lord.

Prayer, work, and praise -- it's a God-honoring
combination.
                                -- Herbert Vander Lugt

        Don't surrender faith and courage,
        Neither quit the place of prayer;
         For the God of earth and heaven
         Always meets His children there.

                                -- Anon.
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             THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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    Pray as if everything depends on God;
    work as if everything depends on you.
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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Psalms 140-144

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