Prayer and Petition
Nehemiah 2:1-8 (NLT)
Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”
Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
Reflection
Nehemiah was face to face with a big task. Building a wall wouldn’t be easy. It would take time, resources, and lots of hard work. But Nehemiah didn’t back down.
He sought God. And then he petitioned for big things from the king. He needed safety and timber, but these weren’t things he could get on his own. So, he simply asked for them. And because God was on his side, he got what he needed.
When we face big challenges, we need to respond the same way - with prayer and petition. We have to act in both the spiritual, asking God for help, and the physical, reaching out to those around us.
The second part may be scary, but God surrounds us with people who are able to support and encourage us. And when He places a challenge in front of us, we can trust that He will help us through it by using those same people.
When we come against a challenge or a faith step, we must first seek God and then ask for help from those around us.
Action Steps
Do you struggle seeking God in challenging seasons? Why or why not?
Do you struggle asking for help from others? Why or why not?
Spend some time praying for the challenges you are facing and who God wants you to ask for help in those times.
Prayer
God, thank You for always being there when I seek You out. Thank You for providing people around me to love and encourage me. Help me ask them for help when I face challenges in my life. I know that Your plan is greater, and I want to be used for it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”
Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
Reflection
Nehemiah was face to face with a big task. Building a wall wouldn’t be easy. It would take time, resources, and lots of hard work. But Nehemiah didn’t back down.
He sought God. And then he petitioned for big things from the king. He needed safety and timber, but these weren’t things he could get on his own. So, he simply asked for them. And because God was on his side, he got what he needed.
When we face big challenges, we need to respond the same way - with prayer and petition. We have to act in both the spiritual, asking God for help, and the physical, reaching out to those around us.
The second part may be scary, but God surrounds us with people who are able to support and encourage us. And when He places a challenge in front of us, we can trust that He will help us through it by using those same people.
When we come against a challenge or a faith step, we must first seek God and then ask for help from those around us.
Action Steps
Do you struggle seeking God in challenging seasons? Why or why not?
Do you struggle asking for help from others? Why or why not?
Spend some time praying for the challenges you are facing and who God wants you to ask for help in those times.
Prayer
God, thank You for always being there when I seek You out. Thank You for providing people around me to love and encourage me. Help me ask them for help when I face challenges in my life. I know that Your plan is greater, and I want to be used for it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Posted in Tree Church Daily Devo
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