A Lifestyle of Prayer

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 ESV

Nehemiah heard reports about the broken walls of Jerusalem but did not know what to do. Entering the presence of the king, he could not hide the depth of his concerns. Sensing that Nehemiah was troubled, the king asked, “What would you request?” (v. 4).

Nehemiah previously had prayed about this issue. But in this sensitive moment, standing before the king and queen, Nehemiah silently stopped to pray again. He responded to the king only after this prayer, sure that God had given him the words to speak.

Throughout every moment of every day, we can respond like Nehemiah. Realize that God is with us, and we can turn to Him any time, confident in His help.

The Bible reminds us that we can seek Him on any subject. He is available to hear our prayers, whether we pray aloud or silently. He can give us His peace, take away our fears, and guide us. And He can give us favor and success, just as He did with Nehemiah.

We also can be certain that His Spirit is with us. As Jesus taught, we can be confident that the Spirit can give us the right words to say (Mark 13:11). This requires discernment and spiritual sensitivity as well as a willingness to listen carefully and to trust the Spirit.

Throughout this day, take time to pray. You can pray about anything, big or small. God is listening.