Before running a marathon, it is all about about flexibility. Preparing oneself to run 26.2 miles means that
you have to stretch your muscles so that they are up to the task.
The word ‘flexible’ means ‘adaptable; yielding to influence; able to adjust readily to different conditions.’ When preparing for the start of a marathon, the runner goes through a set of stretching exercises that can be both tedious and even painful, which gives the body the flexibility it needs to adjust to the varying conditions that may occur during the hard rigors of the run. The runner goes to the source of his/her ultimate success and prepares the body for action. Once this occurs, the body yields to the influence of this preparation and is ready to go.
In the book of Nehemiah, Chapter 1, Nehemiah understood the source of his success when he went to his knees in prayer after he had heard about the plight of his people, the Israelites. Instead of taking the matter into his own hands, Nehemiah was being flexible in allowing the Lord to direct His path; he yielded to the Lord’s influence by preparing his mind for action. Here is what he did.
4When I heard…I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5Then I said:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you 7We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.
10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” (Nehemiah 1:4-10)
Nehemiah understood the basic premise in life for those who follow the Lord; that God is in control.
Nehemiah was a man of action. He knew that he had been prepared for this very task and he moved forward knowing that he was the man of the hour. But he had one big problem. Humanly speaking, it would be impossible to get permission to be away from the king, let alone for an extended period time. Though Nehemiah was the King’s trusted servant, he was still a servant. The king entrusted Nehemiah with his life, and it would be the king’s life that would also be in jeopardy if he granted Nehemiah’s wishes. Nehemiah knew that there was no possible way that the king would ever let him go.
When the situation seemed bleak and his hopes were left for dead, Nehemiah went to the heart of the matter by going to the Lord in prayer; he administered CPR. Nehemiah had learned to:
C onfess: He confessed his sins and the sins of his ‘father’s house’. (Nehemiah 1:6b)
P romise: He stood on the foundation of God’s promises. (Nehemiah 1:9)
R equest: He requested God’s action; to ready the mind of the king. (Nehemiah1:11b)
There are two things that happen when we pray: Heaven rains down and all hell breaks loose. Prayer means that we are stretching our mind and heart, being flexible by yielding to His direction in our life. Though His plan is not ours, when we are flexible, we may find that He may stretch to greater blessings than we could ever have imagined, as we diligently seek to do His will.
Scripture Memory of the Day: (I am) 'like a champion, rejoicing to run his course' (Psalm 19:5b)
2013©Kent Robson
Soles of Faith #5
Soles of Faith #5
0 comments:
Post a Comment