As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4, ESV)
Nehemiah knew things were not right in Jerusalem. The walls were broken down. He wept and mourned for days. He lived with the reality of the situation. It burned in his heart.
Nehemiah was in this for the long haul. It was no small thing to commit to the cause. He needed to know it was right. He needed to know this was God who was guiding him to lead this effort to rebuild Jerusalem.
As a Pastor, I can relate. I have received calls to serve different churches at different times. When that call comes, it is no easy decision to make. Should I stay or should I go? In the end, I want my decision to be God’s decision. I don’t want to do my thing; I want to do his thing. I want to go where he leads me. Seeking God’s will is so important.
I am impressed reading through the book of Acts that the early church would fast and pray over every important decision to be made. They were eager to seek God’s will. I am reminded of Matthew 6:33 where Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” It is God’s will be done first!
Prayer is something we often talk about, but fasting is a practice that is often neglected, especially in America. Fasting is used to make us attentive to God’s leading. It puts us in place to better hear from him. If you have an important decision (or even a minor one), fasting can be incredibly valuable to discern what God would have you do.
In the end, the best leaders are the best followers. They are the ones who seek God’s direction. They seek to discern where God is pointing. Then they go where he directs so that they can show the way to others.
Reflection
- Have you ever fasted when you had an important decision to make? How did that experience turn out?
- Where is God directing you today?
Prayer
Lord, I want to do your will. But sometimes I am confused and unsure of what you want. Reveal where you would have me go and what you would have me do. Make it clear and help me to discern. I want to serve you. And wherever you lead, give me courage and faith to follow. And grant me joy in the journey. Amen.
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