Nehemiah 2:3-5 - but I said to the king, "May the king
live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers 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 fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."
Nehemiah had been pondering his burden for repairing the
great city of Jerusalem for 4 months. He
could not hide his sadness from his boss…even though it could have meant his
loss of employment or even death. Gathering strength and courage from many days
of prayer…he boldly answered his compassionate boss’s concern….lifting one last
spontaneous prayer before he revealed his burden.
He explained to the king that he was worried about his
friends and kinsfolk that had traveled back to repair the Temple of Yahweh. He requested permission to leave his
important job for the king…and go to Jerusalem to lead the needed repair on the
wall that might protect them from harm in the future. God was so gracious to Nehemiah…and gave him
such great courage that when the king quickly granted Nehemiah permission to go…he
asked him also for letters of royal proclamation to protect…and provide him
with timbers to build the gates of the walls…and a home for himself.
Sometimes…God answers our prayers…and reveals his will…but
he asks us to wait on his timing to reveal the answer to others. We are sure of
the job he has chosen us to do …but he has not sent us out with our papers of
protection….or we might still be waiting for the resources to do our job. He is
strengthening us…and working on the hardened hearts that he needs to use to
provide for us all we need to do his work.
He is aligning the many paths that need to cross for his perfect will to
be done.
It is a reminder to me to be more patient…and continue to
pray about a burden until God reveals the time …or opportunity to do the thing
he wants us to do. We will feel his spirit
inside us as soon as the opportunity arises…and must be ready to pray a
spontaneous prayer of strength and courage…as we speak the words God gave us
for just that moment. he will give us courage to reveal not just the task he
has placed on our heart…but ask for the provisions we need to do the work.
If the timing is in his perfect will…he will shower on us
all that we need to do his work. He will
lift us up and give us the strength of eagles…he will mark every important step
with his love…he will place a passion inside our hearts that the Holy Spirit
will increase and give us wisdom to carry out. God will even overflow his love
to give us extra blessings…just like the extra timbers he provided for Nehemiah
to build a home.
Father…thank you for the reminder to continue in prayer over
the burdens you have placed on my heart… until the time that you are ready to reveal
your plan to others. Father…help me to continually
come to you in prayer with the concerns and burdens you have placed on my heart…to
pray without ceasing…so that one day you can use your Holy Spirit to reveal the
perfect time to ask for permission to go and complete the task you placed me
here to do. Create in me a courageous heart and make e bold…yet wise in the
timing of your will…so the bigger picture you are working on will come to pass
exactly as you have planned. Amen.
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