LUPANG HINIRANG: Prayer

“If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”
2 Chronicles 7:14.

Read Nehemiah 1

There have been many prophecies on the rise of the Philippines into economic abundance and while the country is currently undergoing crises left and right, it is quite difficult for the Filipino people to accept it. There are now different Christian leaders rising up in the government, but we need to realize that a few Christian politicians alone cannot bring about change; it will take every Filipino to achieve this. We need to rebuild the walls. We need to stand in the gap for our nation.

Nehemiah was a Jew exiled in Persia who served as the cupbearer, a trusted position, for King Artaxerses. 141 years after the fall of Jerusalem, he received news about of its walls again in shambles both physically and spiritually, he felt heaviness in his heart for his nation. God used Nehemiah to lead the people of Israel in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

2 THINGS NEHEMIAH DID UPON HEARING NEWS:

1. PRAYED.
(Read Nehemiah 1:5-11).
Instead of pointing a finger or blaming others on the plight of Jerusalem, Nehemiah identified with his ancestors and repented before the Lord (Nehemiah 1:6). He also prayed a persevering prayer (Nehemiah 1:6), praying from the month of Kislev (Nehemiah 1:1) to the month of Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1) before he talked to the king.
Nehemiah prayed until something happened. He saw the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt. How much do we pray for the things that we’re believing for?


2. ACTED.
(Read Nehemiah 2: 1-9)
Nehemiah presented his request to the king when he was asked the cause of his sadness. He did not ask anything for himself. Instead, he asked for:

Permission.

“and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it” Nehemiah 2:5.

Protection.

“I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?” Nehemiah 2: 7.

Provisions.

“And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residency I will occupy?”
Nehemiah 2:8.

If God asks you, “what do you want?” what will you say to Him? Do you know what you want?
Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem with his people. He himself supervised the rebuilding of the wall.

STOP BICKERING, START BUILDING.

The story of Nehemiah teaches us how to have deep love, passion and burden for our nation. God has given us different tools and crafts to rebuild it. How will you use them?**