Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 1:5-11

Reflection: John Wesley said that "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." Even more pointed is S. D. Gordon who said, "Prayer strikes the winning blow; service is simply picking up the pieces." I think Nehemiah would agree. When hearing about the situation in Jerusalem, Nehemiah could have launched into a diatribe that blamed these men for not taking action and getting the job done. Nehemiah could have formed a team, gathered resources, developed a plan, and set off to get the job done. Instead, Nehemiah does what many people would feel is little to nothing. Nehemiah prayed. When he does, he reminds us that the single most important thing we can do to ensure the success of our efforts is to pray before, during and after all that we do. It is in prayer that God communicates His will and guides us toward His plan. It is prayer that unleashes the power of God and strengthens our resolve to act. It is through prayer that we humble ourselves before God and confess that He and He alone has the ultimate power to act...or cause us to act appropriately. So, if you are facing a unique challenge, seeking to heal from wounds, needing to form boundaries, or planning to help those who are doing these things, the first step toward success is praying before the God of heaven.