It may be small, brick by brick, but it's a great work. Nehemiah 1:6 - Oh God! Let your ears be attentive and your eyes be open to the prayers we offer you this day. Nehemiah heard about a broken down wall and prayed. What is broken in our lives? What does God keep hearing us say over and over and over, do not stop, O God! I love it that Nehemiah moved forward and built a wall.nAnd Nehemiah thought he was doing a "great work" for God. Whatever we do out of sincere hearts to know You and make You known---it is a great work, a great privilege. May we be more concerned with the little great works we are doing than what we are receiving. May we be more concerned with loving others than what they are doing to us. May we be more concerned with advancing God's Kingdom than managing our lives well. Psalm 25:15-16 ~ O God, Our eyes are ever on You. You can release my feet from the snare that I am in. Trapped. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me, from myself and from my sin, from what I want. O God, hear these out-loud words of mine.
Yet.
He never forgot the suffering of his people. He heard of it. He went for it. He responded to it.
What can I do this day to show kindness to you? We all have problems---we live with ourselves, we know it. When a noble reaches down to a commoner, he makes the heart of God glad. No respecter of persons here. No big people and little people for Nehemiah. Just a very big heart for his God.
So.
He inquires about how they are really doing. Makes me want to go inquire.
And as soon as he hears, he presents his first application to God not man: Nehemiah 1:4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
PHOTO: The Great Divide in my life. I will remember this story of Nehemiah 1 forever. It's a pivotal point for me. Another great divide of longing to pray. Present your 1st application to God not man.
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