Prayer

Prayer
I prayed to the God of heaven– Nehemiah 2:4

There are numerous points of interest to this prayer.

First, notice the context of it. It is not a quiet bedroom, or a crowded church pew, or a scenic nature spot — Nehemiah prays to God in the middle of a conversation with his king!

Nehemiah knew he needed to choose his words, and requests, well and so He fires a prayer to heaven even as he converses with his employer and ruler…and God answers it! Remember this next time you think you are too busy to ask God for help, or direction, or protection.

Notice to whom Nehemiah prays. He prays to the God! While living in a pagan land, surrounded by idolatry and hedonism, Nehemiah clings tenaciously to the one true and living God. Likewise, countless counterfeits are offered for true religion today, many of them just reworking age-old Eastern paganism.

But remember this lesson from Nehemiah: there are millions of gods to which you can pray, but only one God Who answers.

And this God is the God of heaven. He not only answers prayer, but has the strength to fulfill needs, move hearts, change circumstances, and forgive sins. Only the God of heaven, who rules sovereignly over earth, is worth praying to.

Last, and just as important, we notice that Nehemiah says it was I who prayed. He did not rely on his parents, or prophets, or anyone else’s religion. He personally pursued the God from whom he hoped to receive answers.

Have you prayed to the God of heaven today? You are never too busy to pray, and He is never too busy to hear and answer.

Taken from A Good Thing - Daily Devotionals from Baptist Bible Hour