Microwave Prayers | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Microwave Prayers | Previous Challenge Entry
By Del Gibbs
05/06/06
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With a quick prayer to the God of Heaven.... the king granted these requests, for God was being gracious to me. Neh. 2: 4, 8 (LB)

When I think of the word "Hope" I think of a guy named Nehemiah. He was hoping to catch the King of Persia at just the right moment because he had a very special favor to ask.

Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer, longed to be able to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls, and on this particular day, it showed in his face. Normally an amiable guy, Nehemiah always had a smile and a pleasant greeting for you as you started your day. But the news coming out of Jerusalem, the city of his ancestors, troubled him, and today, he just could not fake a smile.

The king asked Nehemiah the same question the bartender asked the donkey. "Why the long face?" Nehemiah seized the moment. It says, "with a quick prayer to the God of heaven" he made his request of the king; to be able to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. That "quick prayer" was answered and the king granted his request.

Now, if that is all you read, you might think that all it takes is a quick prayer and God will grant your requests. Not necessarily so. Take a look at the prequel. In chapter one, you find Nehemiah in fasting and deep intercession. "I refused to eat for several days for I spent the time in prayer...." O Lord God, I cried out.... look down at me and see me praying night and day."

Two things Nehemiah deprived himself of; food and sleep. The guy was serious. He meant business with the Lord, to the point of being willing to forfeit the necessities of life in order to bring his plea before God.
So it may be true that Nehemiah's "quick prayer" was answered, but that prayer was preceded by days of hunger and nights of deep supplication before the Lord.

So where am I going with this, I ask myself? I see in my own life a tendency to want to go the quick and easy route. Throw it in the microwave, set the dial to "Petition" and turn on the timer for a minute-thirty. Then expect God to move heaven and earth in response to my request. Well a microwave might be fine for cooking pot pies but here in Hawaii, if you want a full-on luau, you've got to dig the imu, the underground oven, fire up the rocks red hot, and then tend to it all night long. It just depends on what you want.

O God, thank you for speaking to me today. If it means missing meals or sleep, may I be willing to prevail in prayer. You alone, know those things that I hope for deeply. Amen

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