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Scripture:
And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart."So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 2:1-4)Reflection:
Prayer is a manifestation of our faith in GodIn verse 2, it was mentioned that Nehemiah was dreadfully afraid when King Artaxerxes asked him of what is causing his sadness. Nehemiah, being a man of faith prayed first to God before responding to the king.
Before we do something, before we say about something, or before we decide on something, may we never forget to call on to God for guidance.
Prayer can be done anywhere
Given the same scenario, Nehemiah need not to go away from the king’s presence before he prayed to the one true King.
We may feel more intimate with God when we talk to Him in an isolated room, but may we never forget that He is omnipresent.
Given these, may we manifest our faith as we pray wherever we are right now. Remember that our prayer cannot be restrained based on the worldly limitations for its power comes when we pray them with and in faith.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (Jeremiah 29:11-12 NKJV)
Praying with and in faith does not mean that we can pray whatever we want believing that God can give it to us. Praying with and in faith is coming to God, asking His will, and praying for them to be done.
The future that God pertains to is eternal life, and the hope that He is regarding to is Jesus Christ. His plans for us would lead us eternal life through Christ Jesus. Our prayers must be in accordance to the fulfillment of this, and surely God will listen.
Photo by: Wilmalyn Claire Almeria
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