GOD, “THE INITIATOR” “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayers of your servants who delight in revering your name.” —Nehemiah 1:11 Throughout the book of Nehemiah, there are two themes that run simultaneously; there is the accomplishing of a work and the making of a worker. As Christians, we are all workers together with God, but how do we know if a burden placed on our hearts is from God, or simply an emotional reaction on our part? Nehemiah had felt a burden to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem, which had been left in ruins for 140 years since the Babylonian invasion. God’s presence had left the city, and the people were living in disgrace. Nehemiah’s heart is broken over this, but it wasn’t out of his sorrow and compassion that the idea of rebuilding the walls was initiated. God was the originator, and had placed the desire in his heart. Nehemiah says, “I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:12). God is much more concerned with the worker than He is the work. If we’re going to align ourselves with God’s desire for us, it is important we have that quiet, secret place in our hearts where we commune with Him. Philippines 2:13 says, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” That means the desires of our hearts won’t come from us, but are given to us by God, and placed in our hearts. The fear many people have is that we don’t trust what we want, because we’re not sure whether it’s selfishly motivated, and may not be what God wants. But the reason why it is our will is because we have delighted ourselves in God, and He has given us the desires of His heart. The way God communicates His will is by making it our will, so we are drawn along by a desire that not only deepens and grows, but energizes and motivates us. There are many needs around us, but the need, itself, is not the call. It’s good to ask God to place within us that burden and vision that is His for us, but wise not to make impetuous plans of our own. We need to wait until we have sensed with reasonable clarity that this calling is from God. Nehemiah had the wisdom to wait to see how the circumstances lined up with the vision of his heart. When all was in place, the immense task of rebuilding the city walls began for two reasons…. because it was God’s will and Nehemiah had delighted in God. Dear Lord, I ask that You place your will and desire in my heart, and that You give me many opportunities to serve You. Thank You, Lord. - Charles Price
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 20:56:57 +0000