Prayer, at the heart of life

Friday August 13, 2021

Prayer, at the heart of life

Searching the Scriptures

The king asked me : "What would you want ?" I then prayed to the God of heaven, and replied to the king : "Knowing you see fit and if I, your servant, have obtained your favor, I would like you to send me to Judah, to the city that houses the tombs of my ancestors so that I can rebuild it." Nehemiah 2.4-5

Nehemiah was heavy-hearted at the sight of the knocked down wall of Jerusalem, but he did not know what to do with this burden. He "constantly" sought the wisdom of God in order to know how to act, as well as divine intervention to receive the favor of his master, the king of Persia.

In the presence of the king, Nehemiah could not hide the weight of his worries and the king asked him what was wrong, then asked him : "What are you asking ?" Despite the fact that he prayed constantly and handed his burden to God, Nehemiah still felt the need to seek his face before responding. As he stood before the King and Queen, he paused to pray silently. It was only after this prayer that he presented his request to the king. God had given him the words to speak.

Jesus said to his disciples : "When you are taken away to be arrested, do not worry about what you will say in advance, but say what will be given to you at the same time. Indeed, it is not you who will speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13.11). Jesus wanted them to know that God would be with them in situations similar to the one Nehemiah was going through.

When you face difficult situations in your life, God wants you to know that He is with you too. He is with you at the very heart of your daily life. He wants you to feel free to seek His face for whatever you need, anytime. God willingly listens to your prayers, even if they are said silently.

Listen to the voice of God

Let’s take the time to listen to what God means. He instructs you, he shows you the way you must follow, he advises you and has his eye on you.

Praying is easy. Talk to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example prayer : "Help me turn to you throughout this day. I present my needs to you. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

Praise God

To praise God is to show him our gratitude. What are your subjects of recognition today ? Take a time to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now dig deeper into what you have received. What can you do to apply what God has told you ? Write down the concrete actions you can take.

Honor the Lord

Our route for the day comes to an end. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Father, thank you for listening to me whenever I pray. Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

John Roos

Source (The Thought of the Day)