Standing Tall & Strong Through Prayer, Pt. 1

Standing Tall and Strong Through Prayer, Pt. 1

Life presents to us many problems and challenges. The key is how we respond to them. Do you start by taking them to God?

Standing Tall & Strong Through Prayer, Pt. 1

"So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

(Nehemiah 1:4)

I am looking forward to writing this week on the importance of prayer. We will study Pastor Charles Stanley's message he preached on prayer in his Life Principles study; it really blessed me. As I am teaching this series, there will be times that I share verbatim what Stanley taught, other times when I am summarizing his teaching, and other times when I add my own thoughts as well. As I reflected upon Stanley's life and teaching, I asked the Lord to grant me that same ability to faithfully teach God's Word such that my teaching would outlive me and bless people that come behind me.

What a blessing it is to study the life of Nehemiah. I have preached through the book of Nehemiah, and what an instructive and inspirational book it is on prayer and leadership. My prayer for you this week as you read these devotions is that you will be drawn closer to the Lord in your relationship with Him and would have your prayer life deepened.

Life presents to us many problems and challenges. The key is how we respond to the challenges that God allows to come our way. Often, our first response to these challenges is to become upset and question God. But by far the best response is to pray. The older I get and the longer I walk with the Lord, the more I see how powerful prayer is. We can do many things for the Lord after we pray but nothing of true significance until we pray. I heard the following quote on prayer years ago, and it still speaks powerfully to me each time I hear it: "Prayer does not equip us for greater works; prayer is the greater work."

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, the king of the Medes and Persians in the 5th century BC. His brothers came from Jerusalem to inform him of the terrible news that the protective walls around the city of Jerusalem had been torn down. Over 140 years before, the Babylonians destroyed the walls and gates, and they still were not rebuilt. The city was vulnerable to attacks from their enemies.

For Nehemiah, prayer was not a second or last option; it was the first thing he did. He wept and mourned for days. Throughout the Book of Nehemiah each time he came to a problem or threat or needed guidance, he got on his knees, for he knew the power of prayer. The greatest impact and power will always come to us through prayer. It is the choice tool He has given to us, yet we take it for granted often. Nehemiah knew how to approach God and talk to Him, and as a result, he saw miracles.

I encourage you to follow the example of Nehemiah. Let prayer be your first option and not your last choice. The Lord will hear you and respond in mighty ways when you faithfully pray and trust Him.