May 11, 2024 - Nehemiah 1:4b & 11

“For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven…Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” Nehemiah 1:4b & 11 NIV

Lord, when Nehemiah heard about the situation in Jerusalem he mourned. He prayed and fasted for days over the situation. Through his time in prayer, he decided to do something about it. Lord, we each have at least one thing that you have put in our hearts that we are called to do something about. It is something that when we see or hear about it breaks our hearts and causes our spirits to mourn. Lord, this is likely something that seems too big for us to do anything about, yet, you have put it on our hearts for a reason. Let us learn from Nehemiah. He spent time in prayer over the situation. He prayed, fasted, and asked you for a solution. I am sure that he felt it was an overwhelming task, but he rose to it.

Nehemiah prayed and came up with a plan. He knew how much materials he wanted and how long he needed. It says he was terrified, but he asked for help from King Artaxerxes. He got out of his comfort zone. He didn’t just pray, but he chose to walk in obedience and do something. You used him to repair the walls of Jerusalem. Lord, we want to be like Nehemiah. We want to be used by you to make a difference in the areas that you have placed on our hearts. Help us press in in prayer. Tell us our specific part (whether big or small), give us your strategies, show us how to motivate others to our cause, and help us do something to see change. Give us your favor and let us rise to your call. We say, “Yes, Lord.”

In Jesus name, amen.