Nehemiah 1-13
*image courtesy of eyebiz at www.sxc.hu
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
It can be hard to understand what this verse is talking about. Are we to live our lives on our knees, never talking to anyone, but only praying all the time? How do we fulfill any of the other commands of God if we are praying non-stop? Rather than try to explain, let me illustrate.
Nehemiah was a great man of prayer. Throughout the book that bears his name, Nehemiah is praying without ceasing (Nehemiah 1:1-11, 2:4, 4:4, 4:9, 5:19, 6:9, 6:14, 13:14, 13:22, 13:29). I’m sure you picked up on this theme throughout today’s reading. Just before giving an answer to his king about his downcast mood, he asked God for help. When recounting his righteous acts, he constantly asks God to remember him for them. He asks God at the beginning of the book to remember His covenant love and promise to return His people. When enemies try to stop the rebuilding of the wall, He asks God to vindicate them. When they threaten the people later, he asks for God’s protection. When the assault comes against him personally, he asks for God’s strengthening. He asks God to remember Tobiah’s and Sanballat’s evil doing. Every time you turn around, Nehemiah was seeking God’s help. Whether the need was spiritual, practical, religious, or political, Nehemiah sought God.
This is what it means to pray without ceasing. In all we do, we should be seeking God’s help, His wisdom, His strengthening. This does not mean we have to always stop, kneel, and break out in poetic language. Imagine how short and to the point Nehemiah’s prayer in 2:4 had to have been! The king asked a question, and before he answered, he prayed to God! That’s a quick prayer. It reminds me of the so-called shortest prayer in the Bible. When Peter was walking on water with Jesus, he started to sink and prayed/screamed “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30). That’s quick praying!
Let’s live like Nehemiah did, praying without ceasing. Let’s remember that no matter where we are, no matter what we’re doing, we can seek God’s help. Whether it’s a short prayer for guidance, the right words, or wisdom in a decision; or if it’s a lengthy eloquent prayer recalling God’s past faithfulness and asking for His continued fulfilling of promises, God hears and God answers. So pray, without ceasing.
originally at Words of Reason
Words of Reason 