Scripture to Read: Nehemiah 2:1-5
God loves for us to be totally dependent on Him and to trust Him in every area of our lives. He desires us to fellowship with Him and let our requests be made to Him as we pray. He also desires us to be flooded with His peace so that as we wait on His answer, we not become anxious. God makes this clear in Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As we saw in Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah was burdened about the wall of Jerusalem, which lay in ruins, and the gates were burned. Nehemiah began to pray in Nehemiah 1, laying out his heart to God Almighty. In Nehemiah 2:1, we see the date given “in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes.” God wants us to know that Nehemiah had been praying about this situation for about four months. We may think that praying for something for four months is a long time. We must remember that God’s timing is always perfect and that even if we have been praying for something for many years, we can trust that God is working and listening to us as His children. We must never lose heart or think that God is not listening, but that He is working to carry out His perfect will for His glory, honor, and praise.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about prayer and trusting Him even when our prayers are not answered immediately?
2. What are you consistently praying for that you are still waiting for an answer? What is God teaching you as you wait?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!