Hello Sweet Friends,
Today’s Reading … Ezra 7-10 and Nehemiah 1-10
I love Nehemiah. He is a man of action, conviction and prayer. Did you catch the order in which I listed those? I began with action, ended with prayer and included conviction somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, this is also frequently my mode of operation. Nehemiah, however got the steps in the correct order as was evident by his life and ministry.
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. And then…” (Nehemiah 1:4-5a). He prayed and then he spoke. He prayed and then he moved. He prayed before anything else. Lord, please teach me this discipline. Please train my heart to turn to you first; before other broken mortals, before my frail strength and my insufficient wisdom. Lord teach me to come to the source of perspective, strength and wisdom. And then…
“and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it’” (Nehamiah 2:5). This was a calling that he could not ignore. He had a conviction and a passion that can only come from the fire of the Lord. Nehemiah was not looking for a project or a purpose. He was a cup-bearer in the king’s court, he faithfully served the One True God. He had purpose and position established in his life. The only motivation that Nehemiah had was motivation that the Lord placed in his heart. That is true conviction, that is true calling. Lord, please allow me to abide in you in such a way that I cannot miss a calling on my life. Keep me from seeking purpose or a project and then stamping your name on it. Lord, please instill motivation, conviction and calling in my spirit and make me open to receive and be obedient to you. And finally…
“I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they started the good work” (Nehemiah 2:18). Action. Nehemiah had prayed, he had received a calling from the Lord and now he was equipped to take action. Even in this, he is a model to us all. Nehemiah points first to the “gracious hand of God” and then to the generosity of the king. Never does he speak of his qualifications or have a need to receive affirmation from the people with whom He is working. He is secure in His identity in God and in the calling to this work. That is enough. And what happens? People follow and the work is accomplished. Upon Nehemiah’s return, the work was completed in 42 days. This was not because of Nehemiah’s skill, his leadership or his personal character. Although he was exceptional in each of these areas. The success was because Nehemiah relied completely on the Lord and was living only to please Him. Lord, please allow me to be a leader who points first to you and then to the people around me. Please protect me from needing earthly affirmation. Please mold me into a leader that you can use because I rely only on you and live to please only you.
Prayer. Conviction. Action.
Thank you Lord.
Amen.
Love you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”(Isaiah 55:11).
