But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. [Nehemiah 4.7-9]
When threats came, Nehemiah and the Jews did two things: they prayed, and they guarded.
Did the fact that they guarded negate their prayer? No. In fact, their guarding the city supported their prayer!
A perfect example of this is found with the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. They prayed intently that they might know how to respond to Britain's oppression. But then, they fought the American Revolution that ultimately provided the freedom to worship and pray to God for years to come.
First, however, they prayed.
There is such a lesson for us in this scripture and story today! First, pray! Then, act!
Father, help me to pray first and appropriately follow up my prayer with action.
No comments:
Post a Comment