Nehemiah 1:3-4
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
In the ancient world, a city without walls was a city completely open and vulnerable to its enemies. They had no defence, no protection at all. Those living in an un-walled city lived in constant stress and tension; they never knew when they might be attacked and brutalised. Every man lived in constant fear for his wife and children.
This pathetic situation of Israelite and their prayers went unto the Lord’s presence. God saw the need but little would be done until the right man also felt the need. We might think that an important man like Nehemiah had more important things to think about, than a distant city(800 miles) he had never been to, and a people he had mostly never met. Yet, because his heart was for the things of God, the things that broke God’s heart broke Nehemiah’s heart too.
God was going to use Nehemiah to do something about this situation. But first, God did something in Nehemiah. Historical evidences say Nehemiah prayed for 4 months before he went before the King. Nehemiah waited upon the Lord in fasting and prayer, God worked in his heart. Any great work of God begins with God doing a great work in somebody.
Sisters, we come across many people with spiritual needs around us, do we hear God’s call in those needs? When we set our hearts on God and His Kingdom, we will definitely hear God’s call to “Go and preach the Good News!”. May we not neglect God given burdens in our heart and may we be open to God’s call and His work in our hearts!!
Matthew 9:37
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
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