Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV) They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

These are the words of Nehemiah, the man that was born in exile and that God used to rally the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around that city that had been lying around in ruins after most of the people were exiled to Babylon.  When Nehemiah was told about the condition of the wall around the city, he was greatly saddened. His reaction was to fast and pray for the restoration of not only the wall, but the people of Israel as well. His specific prayer was that God would grant him favor with the king that he served under in Persia.

It is obvious as we read this story that God had selected Nehemiah to encourage His chosen people to rebuild and to be restored. But what was it about Nehemiah that got God’s attention? The passage of scripture above tells us what it was.  Nehemiah was a man who sought after God and who relied on Him to help him in time of need. What was also different about Nehemiah was that his anguish was not for himself but for others. He had a heart not only for God but for the people of God as well and this is what led him to fast and pray. Because Nehemiah was diligent in seeking God’s help through fasting and prayer, God heard him and paved the way for him with the king. 

After spending a considerable amount of time seeking the Lord’s intervention, Nehemiah finally approached the king (4 months later). The king not only agreed to Nehemiah’s request to travel to his country to rally the people to rebuild the wall but he gave him all of the help that he needed, including sending army officers and cavalry to accompany him (Nehemiah 2:1-9). Nehemiah knew that this was no coincidence but that it was the result of his asking God to help him.  This is how he put it:

Nehemiah 2:8b (NIV) And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

God hears us when we cry out to Him and He responds to us when we put our trust in Him. As you fast and pray this week, know that God’s gracious hand will be with you as it was with Nehemiah!

Pastor Joey Vazquez