The Nehemiah Moment

DREAMERS may die, but the dreams of God never die.

No wonder when Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother, came from Judah, Nehemiah wanted to know how things were back home.

“The people are in distress and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its [fortified] gates have been burned (destroyed) by fire,” said Hanani.

These words deeply hurt Nehemiah; he mourned and wept for days, and fasted and prayed.

When you face a setback, what do you do?

NEHEMIAH was sad, but he acknowledged God for who he is.

He called him the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep his commandments.

Whenever you acknowledge God for who he is, you give Him his rightful place and put him in the driver’s seat.

‘Give God the attention he deserves’

David recognized God for who he is and cried to him for help, saying:

When my heart is overwhelmed and weak; lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help]. (Psalm 61:2)

Rock

Are you facing a difficult time in your life? Cry out to Him.

NEHEMIAH begged God to be attentive to his prayers night and day and to forgive their sins.

We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. (Nehemiah 1:7)

He knew that mercy is meaningful only when he takes ownership of their sins, so he stood in the gap for his people.

‘You must develop the skills to know when the Lord speaks and when he does not’

NEHEMIAH became a repairer of the bridge. He knew everything in life is in a seed form, so he began to sow seeds of prayer.

He gave the moment the attention it deserved and made it a memorable one.

NEHEMIAH reminded God of his word to Moses, ‘If you are unfaithful and violate your obligations to Me, I will scatter you [abroad] among the peoples.

But if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered are in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen for My Name to dwell. (Nehemiah 1:8-9)

Like Nehemiah, ask God to forgive your sins.

NEHEMIAH reminded God of his dream for Israel.

The framework of God’s plan for your life is found in the scriptures.

So when you remind him of his word, you're setting yourself up for success. The beauty of this is that God commanded it.

He promised that His word that goes out of his mouth will not return to him void (useless, without result), without accomplishing what

He desires and succeeds in the matter for which he sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

NEHEMIAH knew God could be trusted. He asked that God would make him succeed by granting him favour before the king.

If you desire favour in any area of life, you need God’s favour first, and when you find it, you'll find the favour of men.

The following day, he stood before King Artaxerxes and found favour. The king bankrolled God’s project and put his machinery at his disposal.

Bringing it Together

IF YOU’RE going to seize the moment, you must study the voice of the Spirit and develop the skills to know when the Lord speaks and when he does not.

NEHEMIAH realized that his past and future would depend on what he did that moment. So he gave it the attention it deserved

God wants you to do the same.