Always Say A Prayer
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Nehemiah 2:1-10 and Psalm 108 (NIV)
(Alvin Tay, Chairperson, Local Church Executive Committee)
READ:
Nehemiah 2:1-10 and Psalm 108 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Nehemiah was a man of prayer. In Chapter 1, we read that Nehemiah spent some days mourning, fasting and praying before God when he heard that the wall of Jerusalem had broken down and its gates burned with fire.
He prayed again for God’s favour before petitioning the king. When the king asked him, “What is it you want?”, Nehemiah prayed before responding. And because the gracious hand of God was on Nehemiah, the king granted his requests.
APPLY:
When I was working as a journalist for a daily business newspaper, the deadline for any story assigned was always ASAP – As Soon As Possible. Every minute counted!
Now that I am retired, someone shared with me a new abbreviation for ASAP – Always Say A Prayer. Yes, I must emulate Nehemiah in praying unceasingly to our almighty God, at all times and in all situations big or small.
When my elder son was a missionary and my younger son was studying overseas with a heart condition yet to be resolved, my wife and I prayed for them unceasingly. Thank God they were safe throughout, and are now both happily married and raising their own families. We also prayed, and sometimes went on silent retreats, to discern God’s purposes for us before accepting any new roles or tasks. Nowadays our prayer coverage has extended from family to small group members, friends, and the church.
God may not answer all my prayers, perhaps because I do not ask according to His will. But truth be told, if I were to list all the blessings the Lord has given me and my loved ones, I would bust the 400-word limit for this reflection. Suffice to say, God does answer prayers, albeit in His own way and in His own time.
DO:
I will seek to emulate Nehemiah in cultivating a posture of prayer at all times, wherever I am, and whatever my circumstances may be. And I will pray for our church to be a House of Prayer.
PRAY:
Dear Abba Father, thank You for all Your blessings You have given me and my loved ones. You have provided me with much more than I could possibly ask for. Nurture in me and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ a prayerful heart. In all that we do, and all that we are, may we always say a prayer to You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
