In my reading of Nehemiah 1 this morning, I noticed something very peculiar about his prayer. He found opportunity to pray for others, even those who had strayed from God. Jerusalem, the beloved city of God, had just been destroyed months earlier. As cupbearer to the king, he had his duties, but God’s work was more important. After having favor with the earthly king that he served under, he made a dreadful journey to see the damage at Jerusalem.
But what he does is an incredible testimony to his faith. He prays.
He doesn’t pray for vengeance because he understood that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
He doesn’t pray for wrath because he understood that wrath does not bear the righteousness of God.
He doesn’t pray for destruction because he saw that there was enough destruction already.
But he DOES pray for his fellow believers, including those who’d strayed from God’s commandments. He wept, not only for Jerusalem, but for those who would experience God’s fury if they did not repent. He intercedes for them.
He found opportunity to pray for them.
What does that challenge us to do? Find opportunity to pray for others because the devil will find opportunity to prey on others.
We can’t tear people down and expect them to darken the doors of our churches.
We can’t gossip, slander, and hurt others and expect them to sing God’s praises.
Actually, when we pray, there is no room for the gossip or slander. James makes it very clear that the tongue possesses the ability to bring life or death into any situation.
Are you pouring life into others through your prayers, or are you taking life through preying on others’ weaknesses?
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