SCRIPTURE: NEHEMIAH 2:3-5
“I said to the king, ‘Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.’”
OBSERVATION:
After you have decided it, you can now move to “asking it.” It is important you understand that decision comes before asking. The book of James, chapter one, tells us this:
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
God calls us to make up our minds and decide before we start asking. Nehemiah followed this model. He decided to speak up about the desires in his heart, and the king’s response is, “What are you requesting?” I believe that this is how God responds to us also. When we make up our minds that we want to make a difference, then God begins to ask us, “How can I help?” God wants to help us see the miraculous happen during this Story Initiative faith journey, but we must have a made-up mind and ask God to provide and show favor to us as we step out in faith. Ask great things of God, because you have made up your mind to step out in faith and make a difference.
APPLICATION
Write down the things you are asking God to do in you and through you during The Story Initiative faith journey. Take time to really think through it and write it down in detail. It may be, “God, I am asking for a promotion so that I can be even more generous. I’m asking for some unforeseen financial windfall that blesses me so I can bless The Story Initiative.” Whatever you are asking, write it down and believe for it in faith.
PRAYER
“Jesus, I have made up my mind to do something, and now I am asking you to help me do even more than I can imagine. Grant me favor and grace in everything I do. I am asking you to do great things in me and through me during this faith journey.”