I entitled my last piece on Nehemiah 5 ‘One final thought.’ But I now need to add a postscript!

Early this morning, as I did something so mundane as walking into the utility room to get my medication from the cupboard, I found myself praying, ‘Lord, please help us with what we have to do today.’ I had a specific situation in mind where I was conscious of needing divine wisdom and aid. My next thought was, ‘This is what we see Nehemiah doing again and again – shooting up ‘arrow’ (or ‘telegraph’) prayers. Furthermore, they are not less powerful or effective because they are short, to the point, and uttered amid ordinary duties. It is not necessarily long prayers that God blesses. In Revelation 8, we read about an angel who ‘’was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.’’ (Verses 3,4). I dare say there were some short, desperate prayers in there, alongside longish intercession.

Think about it, your child will have your interest and attention if they call you and say, ‘Dad, mum, please will you help me with this?’

‘’If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him’’ (Luke 11:13).

PRAYER: Lord, please help us with the dilemmas and decisions we face today. We ask for your Holy Spirit.