The year was 444 BC in Susa where Nehemiah served as the cupbearer to king Artaxerxes. While that sounds like a small thing, it was actually a senior position of the King’s court with considerable influence. Around this time, Nehemiah had met some of the folks who lived in Jerusalem and heard that the city was still in ruins, and the wall broken down, which left the city at the hands of bandits and enemies. Now remember, this was Jerusalem, the city where the temple was, and the capital of Israel.

On hearing this news Nehemiah sat down and wept and fasted and prayed. Alone. And then he prayed this audacious prayer. “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” - Nehemiah 1:10-11.

This man was king Artaxerxes and you didn’t mess with the Persian King. One day, Nehemiah was in the presence of Artaxerxes and the king asked him why he was sad. Nehemiah explained the situation of his people back home. Then the king asked, “What do you want?'' This is when Nehemiah quickly prays to God and then asks if he can go and rebuild the city wall. Not only that, he asks for a letter of safe keeping, timber from the King's forest, and the King gave him everything he asked for. 

I love this account because it illustrates that when God lays some burden on our hearts, all we need to do is to start praying. Sometimes even asking big requests of God or others. It is worth noting that the same God who laid this issue on Nehemiah’s heart to pray for, answered his prayers for a sabbatical, letters of safety, and materials needed for the project. In fact, God already had a plan for rebuilding the city. He just needed a man who was willing to start praying and then, as he was prompted, to act. Nehemiah was the man and God used him to rebuild the wall.

If God puts it on your heart to pray about something, He may also have a part for you to play in the plan. And all big things for God start not with a vision but with prayer and a vision. A plan without prayer is just a plan. A plan that starts with prayer becomes God’s plan, and if it is his plan he will ensure that it gets done. When God gets involved cool stuff happens every time.

What has God asked you to pray for? Be bold! Allow yourself to be part of the solution if He asks you to. If you need help, pray, and then ask - boldly. God is not constrained by anybody or anything. If He asked you to pray, it is already His project. And it often starts with just one individual who started to pray because God laid it on their heart.

Father, thank you for Nehemiah who can teach us so much about faith and prayer and courage. Give me faith like His that came out of his prayer life. And give me courage to step out like Nehemiah and act because this is your work, not mine. And give me the ability to trust you in the process. Amen.