A few weeks back I began a study in Nehemiah. I titled it a life changing prayer. You can find part 1 here.  Continuing on with Nehemiah 1: 7-11.

[Nehemiah 1:7 NKJV] “We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

[Nehemiah 1:8 NKJV] “Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;

[Nehemiah 1:9 NKJV] ‘but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’

[Nehemiah 1:10 NKJV] “Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.

[Nehemiah 1:11 NKJV] “O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.

This prayer in chapter one is one continuous thought.

Vs. 7 we see that Nehemiah continues the thought of how we act disobedient towards God.  He is reminding us that no matter what the law or rule is, we (as humans) consistently do not measure up.

Vs. 8-9 Nehemiah starts with ‘Remember’.  He is essentially asking God in his prayer to recall and to remember His own command.  What an encouragement to us that we can come to God and repeat what He has said to us through His word.  If you don’t know what to pray simply pray the scriptures.

In Vs. 10 Nehemiah is demonstrating that all power belongs to God.  He is strong.  He is powerful. Only He can redeem.

Vs. 11 Nehemiah wants to follow the Lord.  This is clear.

What happens next between now and Chapter 2 is incredible.  Many scholars believe that a period of time approximately equal to 4 months passes before we get to chapter 2.  I could go into the process of proving that but I say go look it up for yourself :).  I want to focus in on the reason why.

We see in chapter 1 that Nehemiah recognizes the condition of Jerusalem and begins to pray and fast.  God had placed on his heart a burden.  A burden that ultimately would lead Nehemiah to move to action beyond prayer and fasting.  In Chapter 2 we see that God opens the way for Nehemiah to head to Jerusalem.  We see that in Chapter 2 Nehemiah is sent, safe, and supported.  So what happens in the four months leading up to Chapter 2?  Well I submit to you that God was continuing to do a work in Nehemiah’s life.  Additionally, He was doing a work in many others as well.  You see, the wall around Jerusalem was built by many people.  It required the permission of a King, many resources, and many people.  God was at work in so many areas.  For Nehemiah it was a time for preparation.

I read this and realize that I often have periods of time between the call and the execution of what God wants me to do.  I am encouraged to fast, prayer and submit to Gods perfect timing.  To know that when the time is right we will know that we have been sent, we are safe and supported is important.  No matter how difficult the work becomes we must realize that call is the reason why we do what we do.  What are you struggling with right now?  Are you struggling with something that God has sent you to do?  Be encouraged.  Pray and fast.  Know that God is at work and you are not alone.