Will you begin and end your ministry with prayer?
20 Jun 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
Nehemiah 12
Nehemiah 13
Acts 4:23-37
Remember me, O my God, for good! (Nehemiah 13:31).
Will you begin and end your ministry with prayer?
The Book of Nehemiah commences with the governor of Jerusalem praying and ends on the same note. Prudently, Nehemiah confesses his sins and that of the nation when he begins to undertake the physical renovation of the wall and the spiritual renovation of the people (Nehemiah 1:5-11). He concludes by asking God to remember his benevolent life. Several years ago, while reading through the Bible, I highlighted every biblical prayer. There are a lot of highlighted sections in the Book of Nehemiah. If someone were to follow you daily, recording every prayer you made, how much ink would they use to document your prayer life? Our ultimate example of praying comes from Jesus. He cultivates the example on earth (Mark 1:35) and continues it in heaven (Hebrews 7:25).
Employment Point: Develop a prayer life as natural as breathing.
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Reflections
Prayers have to be a part of our journey of faith. Without prayers, it will seemed like we are with our partners, married but never communicating. What would that kind of life look like? Would that relationship flourish? Unlikely. Because no efforts were made to communicate with each other, to know each other and to really share life with each other. Similarly, if we want to know God and want to grow our spiritual life, it takes effort. Actions are louder than words. Don’t just say we want to grow closer to the Lord but take actions to build it.
In Nehemiah 12, a large portion of scriptures were dedicated and listed all who participated in worship, the singing of praises and the gathering of musicians surrounding Jerusalem coming together to sing as one, giving glory to the Lord, where they also did a dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. “And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.”Nehemiah 12:43 NIV
- What a great day to remember!
“I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.”
Nehemiah 13:10-11 NIV
- it is not just important to sing praises and give thanks to the Lord. We too, have to remember to steward His resources and gifts with a discerning heart. A heart wanting to really make good and be right with God.
“One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.”
Nehemiah 13:28 NIV
- perhaps whatever that was done in extreme will have to be restored in the same way.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
Acts 4:32 NIV
- This is probably the mindset that we too should have. Being one in heart and mind. I’m amazed that people do not even claimed that any of their possessions was their own but gave all to others so that no one was in lack. Truly if everyone has a heart of love like this, the world will indeed be like heaven. There would not be wars. Only peace on earth.
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Have You Come to “When” Yet?
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
June 20
The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. —Job 42:10
A pitiful, sickly, and self-centered kind of prayer and a determined effort and selfish desire to be right with God are never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is actually a sign that I am rebelling against the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I pray, “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer— I will walk rightly before You if You will help me.” But I cannot make myself right with God; I cannot make my life perfect. I can only be right with God if I accept the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to surrender all my rights and demands, and cease from every self-effort. I must leave myself completely alone in His hands, and then I can begin to pour my life out in the priestly work of intercession. There is a great deal of prayer that comes from actual disbelief in the atonement. Jesus is not just beginning to save us— He has already saved us completely. It is an accomplished fact, and it is an insult to Him for us to ask Him to do what He has already done.
If you are not now receiving the “hundredfold” which Jesus promised (see Matthew 19:29), and not getting insight into God’s Word, then start praying for your friends— enter into the ministry of the inner life. “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” As a saved soul, the real business of your life is intercessory prayer. Whatever circumstances God may place you in, always pray immediately that His atonement may be recognized and as fully understood in the lives of others as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now, and pray for those with whom you come in contact now.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
If there is only one strand of faith amongst all the corruption within us, God will take hold of that one strand.
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Reflections
Which is why everything we learn is about prayers. Not just learning how to pray or praying for ourselves but also praying for others, especially when they themselves struggle to pray or may not even know how to pray or have yet to know God. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we know who God is and we know how He loves each one of us even before we know Him!
My friends told me that they have been praying for my salvation and rejoice together with the angels in heaven when I open my heart to the Lord. It was the day I never looked back.
It is also the realisation that when we build this personal relationship with Christ, we pray according to His will. And very often, we will know what His will is. This is not the same as knowing the answer. It is a simple obedience of praying in the Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers, so whatever that was pour forth from our mouths does not come from us but from Him.
We know there are certain things that are not meant to be prayed. There are also things which are meant to be asked. We need to learn and discern when to do silent prayer and when to do open prayer. Typically if you want to pray but yet don’t have any word coming out from Your mouth, that is not meant to be said. Don’t force it. Hold it and pray in silence. Perhaps there are things that are just complicated.
On the reverse when you sense a prompting for you to openly declare it, then do it! The Lord deserves this glory!
Let’s pray:
Father help us to build on our prayer life so that we know exactly when or what to pray. Father may You also guide our tongue so we will only speak the truth and nothing else. Help us to discern on what needs to said and when it ought to be silent too. In Jesus’s name we ask and pray. Amen 🙏🏻
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