How do we “put feet” to our prayers? As we saw in our study of the book of Ruth, sometimes we pray, and then when we act, we find that we become the answer to our own prayers. Nehemiah, also, discovered this.
In exile, Nehemiah asked someone who had been to Jerusalem how things were going there. “Broken down and burned,” came the answer. Nehemiah felt so badly about this that he prayed and asked God to keep his word. God told his people that if they rebelled, he would send them into exile. Nehemiah remembered God’s promise that he would restore the repentant.
Nehemiah continued to pray for God’s favor for his people in Jerusalem. What do we do after we pray? Nehemiah did not conceal his sadness from King Artaxerxes. When the king asked him why he was sad, Nehemiah explained the plight of his people and asked for the privilege to go and rebuild the city. The king sent him.
If we look at our world long enough, we will see something in the spiritual condition of our own people that makes us sad. After we weep, we should definitely walk and work. When Nehemiah returned, he became the answer to his own prayers by going to work. So may we if we will. Will we?
