Another Simple Prayer

At the start of the year, I shared a post called “A Simple Prayer,” which offered up a Bible verse that could easily be repurposed by us today when we pray. I came across another such verse in my recent biblical travels, and thought I’d mention it here:

If you’re not familiar with the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall, I encourage you to read or listen to the book (I use the YouVersion Bible app) when you get a chance. It’s a remarkable story that I’ll summarize below, without giving away the plot, so to speak:

1. Nehemiah was a godly man.
2. Nehemiah was more concerned about the well-being of others than for his own comfort.
3. Because of #1 and #2, Nehemiah recognized that God placed him into a job that would allow him to help others in need – but the choice was his.
4. Nehemiah was wise, and he prayed a lot. Sometimes he prayed long, other times he prayed short. What’s clear is that he sought the Lord’s direction consistently.
5. Because of #4, Nehemiah was patient, choosing to wait for the right time to act, rather than getting ahead of God’s timetable.
6. Due to #3, #4, and #5, Nehemiah took a great risk for God, and the Lord responded miraculously – going far beyond his own initial expectations.
7. Even though #6 happened, due to #3 and #4, Nehemiah already had a plan in place, so that when the miracle happened, he knew what God wanted him to do next. ➡️ Think on that for a moment!
8. Nehemiah faced great opposition. His character was impugned, his reputation assassinated, and he also had to do without many of the material comforts he had previously enjoyed.
9. Nehemiah kept on praying.
10. God worked a great miracle for many people, due to one godly man, willing to respond to the burden that the Lord placed on his heart.

Prayer is powerful – even simple, heartfelt ones, like “Remember me, O my God, for good.” God remembered Nehemiah for good (despite the opposition he faced), and the Lord remembers us, too! 💛