And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me. (Nehemiah 2:8 NAS95)
Nehemiah sensed it. In fact, the initiative came from what he felt when he heard the news of the remnant in Jerusalem and the broken walls. A Presence surrounded him and pulled him to his knees for days. Gripped by what caused the exile from Jerusalem, on behalf of his nation he weeps and confesses the lack of attention to God and His word from among His people. Their disobedience had ushered in the exile. Now, though, the unseen One, the always Present One moved Nehemiah to pray. Pray for the land and pray for the people of the land. No food ingested. Simply digesting the Presence of God and what that communion meant.
The king not only saw, but observed, Nehemiah’s countenance. Fear entered Nehemiah’s heart since a sad face put him in a bad place in the presence of the king. Yet the King who accompanied Nehemiah overcame the fear he carried through prayer so he could share the story of his people and their need. Artaxerxes heard, obliged and granted the request. The king showed favor because of The King’s presence with Nehemiah. The prayer spoken became the prayer lived. Nehemiah’s attention to God grew to the profound and he knew the good hand of the Lord accompanied him. He recognized, responded, and actively attended to the Presence of the One who is with him. Verbal prayer became the reflection of the conversation going on in the depths of his soul with God. The fruit of that communion developed a leader, built a wall and authored a book by Nehemiah’s name revealing a God who initiates and loves. Prayer attends to God and His desires. Communion with God attends to His presence.
For Reflection:
“And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”” (Isaiah 6:3 NAS95)
- How does God initiate conversation with you? What do you even think of that idea?
- What times in your life or in what circumstances have you felt impelled to pray?
