Have you seen this billboard? I love it!
The pressure is on. Things need to get done. You are capable of accomplishing the task, but can feel opposition all around you. What do you do?
This was the scenario in Nehemiah chapter 4, and I’m pretty sure you’ve felt this way a time or two also. I have.
In Nehemiah you had a group of people rebuilding a city. They were trying to do what was right. When times got tough: reports would come that their lives were at stake, that the enemy was ready to tear down and destroy what they had been working on so hard, and they could hear the discouraging words from the “bullies”, they would turn to their leader. What did the leader do? He took it all to God. He would pray to God.
The pray Nehemiah prayed reminded me of a country song that says:
“I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill
I pray a flowerpot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to
I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls
I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls
I pray all your dreams never come true
Just know whereever you are, near or far, in your house or in your car,
wherever you are honey, I pray for you.
I pray for you.
Seriously?
Okay, here’s Nehemiah’s prayer:
“Our God, listen to our prayer. These men hate us. Sanballat and Tobiah are insulting us. Make bad things happen to them. Make them ashamed, like people taken away as prisoners. 5 Don’t take away their guilt or forgive the sins they have done in your sight. They have insulted and discouraged the builders.”
Let me show you the two verses to the song “Pray for you”:
I havent been to church since I don’t remember when
Things were goin’ great ‘til they fell apart again
So I listened to the preacher as he told me what to do
He said you can’t go hatin’ others who have done wrong to you
Sometimes we get angry, but we must not condemn
Let the good Lord do His job and you just pray for them
I’m really glad I found my way to church
‘Cause I’m already feelin’ better and I thank God for the words
Yeah I’m goin’ take the high road
And do what the preacher told me to do
You keep messin’ up and I’ll keep prayin’ for you.
For some reason (Oh, yea, God’s reason…) I don’t think that the preacher in the song wants you to pray for those “bullies” that way. The bible has a plethora of verses on praying and dealing with your enemies. Here are a few:
- “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44
- “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21
- “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
- “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
Nehemiah got real with God. We should! In his time, they didn’t have the redemption of Jesus like we do. So I can see why he prayed the way he did. It worked. God took care of them and protected them from their bullies during this season of life.
We, on the other hand, need to pray the way those verses tell us above, and not the way the country song does. It is hard, but necessary.
Here’s an example/prayer request that I can think of for just today. We are having a meeting a work today that many are not looking forward to. I’m not either, but I’m ready to learn, grow, and become a better educator. This meeting (I think) has to deal with a performance plan that has several up in a roar. Yes, people’s payment and livelihood are being messed with, but we need to look at the big picture. When we are being evaluated (judged) on our performance at work, some folks “put on a show” and teach like they never do, but should. I feel, and I may make enemies, but…I’ll pray for them (haha), we should be teaching daily as if we are being observed and evaluated. When we, anyone..with whatever occupation you have, does a job, we should always strive to do our best. In Colossians 3:23 it says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” When we perform at a high level, with all we have, and for the Lord, things have a tendency to work out for the best. Is it often exhausting? You bet. But it will be worth it. The students, in my case, will benefit greatly when I set my mind on working this way. It is hard to work at a highly effective level each day. There will be times when we want to just throw our hands up and say, “Phewey!” But when those times come… pray. When you feel that your evaluator/observer is the enemy…pray. When you feel opposition from others…pray. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Give it all to God.
I know you’ve read by words on this same type journaling topic as today, but it is so true. We need to pray and be encouraging to one another, even to our “bullies”.
Blessings to you.
(I have only read a fraction of my scriptures this morning. But I felt led to write this. So beware…I may have more journaling thoughts to come from today’s “Walking in the Word”.)
| August 16, “Walking in the Word” |