Seize the Moment – Day 995

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07
Dec '22

Seize the Moment – Day 995

Posted on Dec 7, 2022 by Jerry Ingalls in Devotions, General |

07
Dec '22

Compelled to Act through Prayer!

Nehemiah 2

 

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, December 7.

 

You should always pray before you act. Don’t do anything until you know it is God telling you to do it, but once you are compelled in the Spirit, act with conviction and authority – Don’t hesitate and don’t hold back!

 

Prayer is the most powerful activity we can participate in as God’s people – “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). Prayer is not idle time; it is hard work, and it is productive! Prayer makes the way for us to walk in the victory of God. We see the evidence of this in the life of Nehemiah, who after four months of fasting and praying, was confronted by King Artaxerxes for looking sad in his presence (Nehemiah 2:1-2). Nehemiah is rightfully scared because his sad disposition before the king violated court etiquette, but instead of covering it with a smile, he seized the moment! Nehemiah 2:4b-5 records the story,
 
“So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, ‘If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.’”

 

In response, King Artaxerxes made Nehemiah governor of Jerusalem. This doesn’t happen by accident – from cupbearer to governor in an instant! Go God! As Nehemiah testified, “the good hand of my God was on me” (8). After four months of praying and fasting, which providentially led to this encounter with the king, the next place we find Nehemiah is arriving in Jerusalem surveying the damage, building consensus amongst the people, taking on the opposition, and starting the work (9-20). Nehemiah’s activity for God was shot out of the cannon of prayer!

 

Seize the moment and wait upon the Lord to compel you to act! Pray first then act with conviction and authority.

 

God bless you!

 

If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.

 

YOUTUBE:

If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.

Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.

 

 
 

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