Nehemiah 2:1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before….
Several things struck me about this chapter. The first is that it is written in first person (I, me, we), which drew me in in an entirely different way than third person (he, she, they) does. The second is that the action in this chapter comes after four months of prayer.
Nehemiah 2:4-5 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king….
The third is that even though this entire exchange is sanctioned by God, Nehemiah still encounters opposition (from an unexpected source) in the doing. Further, he does not allow that opposition to derail or sidetrack him from God’s will.
Nehemiah 2:8 …And because of the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that we need to bring all things to You in prayer, that Your will also requires our action, and that just because we root ourselves in Your will does not mean we won’t face obstacles and setbacks. Help us, guide us, and strengthen us, Lord, as we follow Your will for us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Nehemiah 2:20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success…”
Have a blessed day.