Pray and Work, the Inspiring Example of NehemiahSample

Great joy

“And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.” (Nehemiah 12:27)

“Pray and work” was the motto that fit Nehemiah's building project. Today we see that prayer was not limited to the beginning of the story, when everything still seemed so hopeless and Nehemiah desperately needed God's help. Nor was it limited to the moments of opposition and despondency, when the people again called for God's help. When the building project was completed, the people prayed to God again! This time they thanked the Lord for His faithfulness.

In Psalm 50:15, God encourages people: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” That is exactly what happened in the book of Nehemiah. The seemingly hopeless condition of the ruined city of Jerusalem changed when Nehemiah began to pray for it. God provided a solution, and this led to great joy among the people which they then expressed toward the Lord God as well.

Take Nehemiah's story as encouragement when you too encounter difficult situations. Pray for God's intervention. Lay your need before Him. Then be willing also to take action if necessary. And, if you manage to achieve improvement with God's help, don't forget to praise Him for it!

What specific situations can you think of, looking at the past or the present?

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