Day 20: Perseverance

Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV) They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

When Nehemiah heard that the wall around Jerusalem was in ruins, his heart was broken and He began fasting and praying to the God of heaven. Scripture tells us that he fasted and prayed for “some days.”  He was praying for favor with the king of Persia, whom he served, because years earlier this king had decreed that all construction work in Jerusalem be stopped.

In the next chapter, we learn that Nehemiah received an opportunity to share his heart with the king four months after he started to fast and pray. Nehemiah’s “some days” were actually four months worth of prayer and fasting.

We read later in this book about the favor the Lord granted Nehemiah with the king and the victory he achieved in getting the people in Jerusalem to rebuild the wall in just 52 days. But the victory was not actually won the day the wall was completed; it was forged during Nehemiah’s four months of praying, fasting and seeking his God. He persevered, not giving up until the Lord answered His prayer. Let this serve as an encouragement for us to continually fast, pray and seek the Lord for His favor in our lives.

Prayer:  Lord, give us the strength and the perseverance we need to continually fast and pray, even when we do not see answers right away. Help us not to give up but to wait expectantly in hope, believing that you are not only hearing us, but working on our behalf because of your love for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.