I believe that with the power of prayer, I have to take the time and be on the lookout for those who are being exploited and then I have to care enough to get angry and get involved. That may mean I have to stand up to a bully, it may mean I need to engage in fervent prayer, and it may mean that I need to give a helping hand.

It is my praying for God’s Kingdom to come on earth that my discipleship methods reaches out to those captured in the practices rooted in our fallen humanity. As Nehemiah points out, these people exist among the people of God as in the world. It is only in authoritative prayer that we have the courage and determination to speak into that world.

Some time later many of the people, both men and women, began to complain against the other Jews.  Some said, “We have large families, we need grain to keep us alive.”

Others said, “We have had to mortgage our fields and vineyards and houses to get enough grain to keep us from starving.”

Still others said, “We had to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our fields and vineyards. ⁵ We are of the same race as the other Jews. Aren’t our children just as good as theirs? But we have to make slaves of our children. Some of our daughters have already been sold as slaves. We are helpless because our fields and vineyards have been taken away from us.” – Nehemiah 5:1-5 GNT

Maybe it is because I am praying that I hear the cry from the people. Jesus seemed to perceive their needs. Interesting to note that His only time for quietness and a place to pray was night time. I think the world is looking for someone to hear their cry for help.

When we give of our time and energy and are spent, we may pray the same prayer Nehemiah did.

I pray you, O God, remember to my credit everything that I have done for this people. – Nehemiah 5:19 GNT

 

Prayer is the only entryway into genuine self-knowledge. It is also the main way we experience deep change—the reordering of our loves. Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things he has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life.

We must learn to pray. We have to. Timothy Keller