Years ago there was an advert that used to say “go to work on an egg”. I wonder though how do you start your week? It is important because that can set the tone for what happens for the rest of that week.
Listen to this quote “So far today, God, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed and from then on I’m probably going to need a lot more help”
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:6
Followers of Jesus are encouraged to start the week by communicating with God asking him indeed to help them with whatever they have to do that week and with whoever they have to meet that week.
Now we can learn from lots of people and indeed read lots of books about communication or in other words prayer. One that I found most interesting is the one in the book of Nehemiah chapter one. We learn several things from this chapter that might help us as we communicate with God.
Synopsis of the story is that Nehemiah’s brother came back and told him of the state of Jerusalem which was nothing more than a heap of rubble. This distress made Nehemiah want to do something about it. Unfortunately, he was in a foreign land serving a foreign king. Nehemiah thought what on earth could he do about repairing the city of Jerusalem when he was hundreds of miles away? What strategy could he use? What plans could he have?
So here is the strategy which I believe will help us.
Nehemiah begins his prayer in Verse 5 “Lord, God of heaven, you are the great God”. Notice how he starts. He knows that the God to whom he is praying is an awesome God who knows and understands. We sing a song called “Splendour of the King” and how true it is.
Nehemiah does not rush straight into requests and asks God please give me a plan. He wants God to know that this situation about the state of Jerusalem was not too big for the God he loved and served.
Let me give you another example found in the book of Daniel. It again relates to the city of Jerusalem. Daniel knew God had told them He would let them (the Jewish nation) go back to Jerusalem after 70 years of living in Babylon. Daniel decided to pray, not a bad idea is it? Listen to how Daniel begins to pray.
I prayed to the Lord my God and told him about all of our sins. I said, “Lord, you are a great God who causes fear and wonder.
Daniel 9:4
Hope the penny has dropped, as they say.
Whatever situation lies ahead of you this week you too can have confidence in the God we love and serve for it is the same God. So before making plans why not start by talking to God and tell Him how great He is and that because of His greatness He can solve your situation today.
Start the week off not by an egg but by prayer. I leave you with a verse in Ephesians which says this.
With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
Hope that fills you with confidence.
Stay safe and Blessed.