Thoughts for another day

January 29, 2007

Today's verse: Neh. 2:20. Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In prayer, there has to be confidence in God that God will grant whatever we ask for. Recently at a Bible Study class, when I mentioned this, someone asked me, ‘but it is not that God will grant all that we ask for but only that which is part of His will?’ Yes, I agree that we need to follow the will of God. But then, suppose a person, let’s say Mr Doubtful, loses his job and doesn’t have money for food and he prays, ‘Lord, give me and my family food to eat, however, let thy will be done!’ Now for a moment assume you are God and listening to this prayer, particularly when you have already declared, ‘Ask and you will receive.’ Won’t you just dismiss Mr Doubtful as a foolish person? Won’t you feel sad that despite your having assured him of delivering whatever he asks for, he still persists in making such a weak prayer?

That is exactly what happens between God and us. Luke warm and halfhearted prayer is the bane of Christians. God does not answer it because He does not see your heart in it. And then we go and say, ‘brother, it is God’s will that I suffer…’ God’s will? I will define it as the silliest thing. The Bible clearly says in Ps. 37:4, ‘Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart.’ My friend, this is not just a printed line in the Bible, it is a promise of the Almighty! Of Him who is able to bring things out of thin air! Hold to it and you will see His power manifest before your eyes.

Now go to today’s verse. See the confidence in the words uttered by Nehemiah. The words of a man who, just a little earlier had poured out his heart to God (Ch. 1). Declared at a time when the scenario was of total despair. God had delivered the Jews to the mockers and everything was destroyed. Imagine if you were there in Nehemiah’s shoes. Would you have uttered the same words to the enemies of Israel? They would say, ‘you must be out of your mind!’ And in reality they did, yet, God heard Nehemiah.

My friend, when a person stands up and despite the extreme odds, expresses confidence in God, the Father is pleased. God knows, in the situation, where dependence is totally on Him, the glory will also be totally to Him. And yes, He answers the prayer. In fact, He is pleased to answer such prayer. So stand up right now and declare before Him the desires of your heart and believe that when you please Him, He will grant them to you. Amen.