There are 2 things we need to look at in this passage. The first is that Nehemiah was living in exile as a slave under a foreign king. He knew he was going to need a miracle to be allowed to make the trip to Jerusalem. Read verse 4 again. When the king asked him what was wrong his first reaction was to pray and secondly to answer. It was as if prayer was a natural reflex action for him. Someone asked him what he wanted, and he automatically prayed then immediately answered the question.   The point here is that if we want to see miracles happen that should be our response. The process is simple, it goes like this: Someone asks us, ‘What do you want?’ Our response should be to pray “Lord I need a miracle!” Our reply is then to say, ‘I want this particular miracle.’ And then see what God does.

The second thing we need to see is that having been given the opportunity to go to Jerusalem Nehemiah took time to assess the situation and to see what needed to be done before he took his already formulated plan to those who would be doing the work. (See V.16). He didn’t turn up with a half-baked idea, he arrived with evidence of the first miracle in his hand – permission from the king to be there – and his assessment of the things that were wrong and what needed to be done about it. Did you note that his call was to lift the nation out of disgrace (v.17). His plan had a vision behind it, a vision that would elevate a disgraced nation back to the place of favour that it was intended to have.

The main point here is that miracles happen when we pray, when we look to see what God wants to do and we move in that. Nehemiah did all of that showing the people who would do the work what needed to be done. Genius!

***

Question:

Where do you need to see a miracle in your life right now? Have you prayed for it? Have you asked God for it? Have you formulated a plan based on the above? Have you stepped out in faith for it?

Prayer:

Lord God you know my heart and you know the things I need. I ask that you would bless me with all that I need that I might show the world around me the magnificent abundance for the God I serve. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.