SCRIPTURE: NEHEMIAH 1:2b-3
“And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.’”
OBSERVATION
As we learn to be aware of the problems around us and develop a burden for the people, we will begin to hear God speak to us. Many times simply by opening up our hearts and telling Jesus we are listening, we will find direction. Nehemiah began to ask questions about the condition of the people. His questions opened the door for God to speak to him. The interesting thing is, the voice of God came to him through the people around him.
Oftentimes we wait for God to speak to us, but maybe He is already speaking. In this passage of scripture, we see that God speaks to Nehemiah through the people who are in need. Many times we do not need to hear the audible voice of God to know what to do. Nehemiah hears the report from his brethren and is able to understand that God is speaking to him. The world around us cries out for help. As believers, we need to hear the voice of God in their cries. We don’t need to pray about if we should be winning the lost; we just have to have an open heart to listen to the need. Our prayer must be, “Speak, my heart is listening.”
APPLICATION
What is God speaking to you as you look at the world around you? The question isn’t, “Is God calling you to do something?” Instead, it is “What need are you willing to listen to?” Take time to open up your heart as it relates to The Story Initiative. What need are you willing to let God call you to meet?
PRAYER
“Jesus, help me to hear your voice in the middle of all the noise. Help me to have eyes to see and ears to hear the thing you are calling me to. Jesus, I want you to speak to me. Open my heart; I am listening.”