By Pastor Anthony Scott
Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. – Nehemiah 2:4
There are those who believe that God only intervenes in the broad areas of our lives but doesn’t involve Himself in the specific details. However, the Bible illustrates quite the contrary. God’s guidance and involvement in our lives is detailed, daily, personal, unfailing, and preplanned. Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us to “Trust/Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” Psalm 139:16 says, “All my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.”
Therefore, since God has planned all our days, we should acknowledge Him in all our ways. This was the habit of Nehemiah. On a particular day, in the royal palace in Susa, no one seemed to notice the light pause in conversation between Nehemiah and the king. Nehemiah knew how vital it was to disengage from life’s pressures in order to spend time with God. He valued specific moments of silence in order to not only make requests of God but to hear from Him. Nehemiah had come to realize these strategic periods of silence in the presence of God would replenish him for service and allow God to provide the resources He needed for success. For him the rhythm of withdrawal and involvement was essential.
Although Nehemiah was a man of decisive action he also understood the importance of waiting on God. This time spent with God multiplied his creative thoughts, provided him with new perspectives, and rendered him more prepared for God’s use. When gripped by the suddenness and urgency of God’s assignment on his life, Nehemiah demonstrated a resolve to trust in God. Due to his intentional habit of seeking God on all occasions panic never invaded his heart. Paul Tillich wrote about humanities three types of anxiety. These are the fear of death, the fear of guilt, and fear of meaninglessness. Trust in God banishes all fear.
We should also take note of the necessity of prayer in the life of Nehemiah. Although he prayed previously he knew he needed to continue in prayer. For him there was an immediacy to prayer required for that moment. Francois Fenelon advised his readers to make good use of chance moments, for one moment will suffice to place you in God’s presence. If you wait for convenient seasons you run the risk of waiting forever. Finally, after lifting his heart to God, Nehemiah is now ready to plan and proceed by opening his mouth to the king and telling him what is needed.
There is an Italian harbor that can only be reached by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks. Over the years many ships have wrecked because the navigation is so hazardous. To guide the ships safely into the port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three large poles. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, ships can safely proceed. If the ship’s captain sees two or three lights, the vessel will veer off course and be in danger. God has provided three beacons to guide us. The Word of God is our objective standard, the Holy Spirit is our subjective witness, and Circumstances are evidence of divine providence leading us in the right way.
Take some planned and strategic moments with God this week and discover that between one breath and another you will be in the audience chamber of God.
