The Refocusing Power of Prayer

“Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” (Ne 4:3-6 AV)

The best thing to do when faced with something which one can do nothing about is to pray about it.  Let the work go on.  Nehemiah was very wise here.  He didn’t obsess about a threat he could do little about.  He prayed aloud so the people could hear.  Then continued the work. By continuing the work, Nehemiah publicly showed his faith to all the people.  He left a problem with the LORD and continued on as though the LORD had already solved it.  Pray about it!  Prayer never hurts the cause of God.  It only helps.

Prayer is underutilized, to say the least.  There is more benefit from prayer than getting our prayers answered.  In fact, after Nehemiah prayed this prayer, God did not immediately deal with the threat at hand.  Nehemiah placed armed guards on the wall which discouraged and attack from the enemy.  Later, the enemy would entice the Jews to compromise while Nehemiah was away on business.  The prayer did not get answered as we might think. The LORD gave Nehemiah wisdom in how to deal with the threat, but the threat remained all during the project and even after it was completed. So, what benefit did prayer bring to Nehemiah and the people?

No doubt, God’s answer to Nehemiah was not to directly and permanently remove the threat.  Instead, wisdom was the answer.  There was a greater benefit to Nehemiah and the people.  A benefit which the people of Israel had a hard time learning and appreciating.  The benefit of faith.  When prayer is offered, we are forced to either leave our concerns with the LORD, or, take them up again after request has been made.  If we leave them with the LORD, we have prayed in faith as James the Apostle tells us to.  If not, then we have not prayed in faith.  Prayer is intended to be an exercise of faith.  The more we pray, the more faith.  The more faith, the more peace of heart.  Prayer is the muscle behind consistent spiritual growth.  The more we leave with God in prayer, the more we can concentrate on being busy for the LORD.