When I think of Melchizedek blessing Abram, I have begun a practice of blessings others. Not that I think I am a priest of any kind, I just want to pray for a blessing on others.

May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram. – Genesis 14:19 GNT

When I think how Nehemiah built the wall, I think about how I can pray for missionaries around the world who need to be lifted before God in believing prayer. They are all working to share the gospel, though on different parts of it.

This is how the city wall was rebuilt.^[a] The High Priest Eliashib and his fellow priests rebuilt the Sheep Gate, dedicated it, and put the gates in place. They dedicated the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. – Nehemiah 3:1 GNT

Only because I am thinking about it right now as a sending mission ministry, there are indirect workers that need prayer as well. The donors, the passionate world changers, and those who want to enlighten the minds of those who need it are some whom we often fail to recognise. There is work everywhere and so I rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit on where to go.

I think about the Holy Spirit’s role in calling Barnabas and Saul.

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them.”

They fasted and prayed, placed their hands on them, and sent them off. – Acts 13:2-3 GNT

I love the fact that the call came – as they were serving the Lord. Is this not the work of all who follow Jesus? Does it not involve worship, praise, prayer, listening to and honouring God?

I believe they fasted as they were determining exactly where the Holy Spirit was calling them.

“We are not called to choose between a Christian life based on truth and doctrine or a life filled with spiritual power and experience. They go together. I was not being called to leave behind my theology and launch out to look for ‘something more,’ for experience. Rather, I was meant to ask the Holy Spirit to help me experience my theology.” – Timothy Keller