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Paving the Way With Prayer!

Today, we open the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah has a genuine heart for God. He hears of the situation in Jerusalem and is stirred up to do something about it. The Jews have been back in their land for almost a century now, and the walls of the city are still not finished. The people of God need someone with a vision and servant-hearted ambition to lead. So what does Nehemiah do? He prays.

Nehemiah knows that he will need God’s favor to prepare the king’s heart to see the fulfillment of his vision. Notice Nehemiah’s prayer. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. (Nehemiah 1:11, NLT) Notice the king’s response when Nehemiah shares his vision with the king. The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” (Nehemiah 2:4, NLT) … the king agreed to my request (2:6) … And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me. (2:8) Wow, paving the way forward with prayer was powerful!

A heart for God and a vision for God’s glory were not enough; Nehemiah prayed. It is easy to forget or be impatient and surge ahead without prayer! Yet the work we need God to do is vital, and who but us will ask? I am reminded of a verse in the New Testament: do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6, ESV) If you have a heart and vision for something—then pave the way with prayer!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Nehemiah 1-5.

The power of a thought!

In this morning’s reading, we see firsthand the power of David’s thought life! At this point, David has likely been on the run from Saul for at least four years. A grueling time it has been! There is no sense of stability. No rest. He and his men live out of caves. And all of his energy goes into just staying one step ahead of Saul—exhausting! On top of this, David has refrained from killing Saul twice. David confesses it would be wrong to touch the LORD’s anointed. Talk about feeling stuck! Well, David has been thinking about this a little too much. Notice how his thoughts get away from him.

But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” (1 Samuel 27:1, NLT)

So what does David do? He moves in with the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:2-4)! Here are the news headlines Saul gets to publish in Israel: DAVID DEFECTS TO THE PHILISTINES! Another headline reads, DAVID SETTLES IN GATH!, and another, ACHISH GIFTS DAVID ZIKLAG! Ouch! This is not a great moment for David! Aren’t the Philistines Israel’s enemy? Wasn’t Goliath from Gath? David accepted a gift from Achish? What was David thinking? That’s a good question; what was David thinking?

Here is the problem summed up in a phrase. Notice verse 1 again: But David kept thinking to himself… David couldn’t get outside of his head! David locked himself in a thought cycle no bigger than his reasoning. David is caught in an echo chamber! And what thought keeps echoing around in his mind? Saul is going to kill me! David repeatedly thought that Saul would kill him, and it was only a matter of time. Is it really only a matter of time? Not if God has anything to do with it!

Notice the solution from David’s echo chamber: “The best I can do is…” That sounds massively limiting and terribly defeating, but it is honest, as it is the best David can do without God in his thoughts! Is this the same David who killed Goliath? Is this the same David Samuel anointed to be the next king of Israel? Yes, but now he has settled in the land of the Philistines! How did this happen? It started by entertaining one little faithless thought: Saul will kill me. That thought was not a proper thought; it was a wrong thought. That thought was not good and honest; it was a deceiving thought. The power of a thought!

It’s easy to get caught in an echo chamber, isn’t it? This is where a single faithless thought can bounce around and massively limit our perspectives with the idea that this is the best I can do! So, what’s the solution? How do we interrupt this destructive thought cycle? Notice what the Bible says…

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:7–8, ESV)

Believers, with God, our options are not limited; we don’t have to settle for the best we can do! God has a plan, and this we know! God is faithful, and this we know! God is in charge, and this we know! God will make a way, and this we know!

Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 1 Samuel 25:1-27:12.

Uh-oh!

Uh-oh is right! Today’s reading has a very different tone! Israel complains about their hardships. Cravings set in for fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Moses hears the grumbling of Israel and unloads on God. Exhaustion and burnout are in his voice. Aaron and Miriam unload on Moses, questioning his marriage and leadership. Spies are sent into Canaan, but the report is a story of can’t do, not can do. The camp turns into one unhappy mess!

God responds. It’s not pretty. Fire breaks out in the camp for complaining. A plague sends many to an early grave for gluttony. Miriam’s leprosy breaks up the family feud. Chapter thirteen ends with us hanging; how will God respond to the spies’ report of Canaan?

As I think about Israel’s situation, something simple is missing. The attitude of gratitude is gone! Israel is not focusing on blessings; they are focused on problems. In thinking about this, 1 Corinthians 10 comes to mind. The Apostle Paul speaks about Israel and says this…

These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. (1 Corinthians 10:11, NLT)

There is power in gratitude! Now, gratitude doesn’t magically eliminate an uncomfortable situation, but it changes us in that situation. As gratitude changes us in our situation, the outcome is affected. Without gratitude, we feel entitled, and complaining then follows. With gratitude, we feel thankful, and requests then follow. The outcomes between the two are different! Notice the attitude of gratitude in the following two verses. Notice how it changes us in the situation and impacts the outcome!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7, NLT)

God is a good God, good all the time! Let’s rejoice in His goodness, and may our gratitude be evident to all!

Thanks for joining me in my adventure to read the Bible chronologically! Today’s post comes from Numbers 11-13. Tomorrow, I will be reading Numbers 14-15, Psalm 90.