Be Ready

Nehemiah 2:^4-5 “The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah… so that I can rebuild it.” (NIV)

We will pick up today’s devotional from where we left off yesterday, which is that a door may be three things. A door may be An Opportunity From God, A Distraction From Others, or A Trap From Satan. A door may actually be An Opportunity From God. Paul speaking in 1 Corinthians 16:⁹ “A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here.” (MSG). Classic equation – Opportunity plus Opposition equals God’s will [Opportunity + Opposition = God’s Will]. Opposition does not negate the fact that the door is an opportunity from God. Secondly, a door can actually be A Distraction From Others. Again, discernment is needed, because not every door is an opportunity from God.

The truth is that God has a plan for your life, and so does everyone else. Think about it. Have you had times when men have opened doors of distraction to you? A classic example from the Bible is Nehemiah. Nehemiah was doing well by every standard, even in captivity. Nehemiah was in the palace attending to the king. He eats what the king eats, even before the king eats it. He tastes what the king drinks even before the king drinks it. He had a good life. But Nehemiah had a burden for his people, God’s people. so, he started by praying and praying. After a while, the king saw his countenance and asked him why he was looking so sad. Note that to come into the king’s palace with a sad countenance in Nehemiah’s role is to risk being beheaded.

You must always be cheerful. But Nehemiah was so burdened that he could not help it. And instead of cutting off his head, the king wanted to know what the problem was. I pray that God will show you favour in Jesus Name. Nehemiah told the king that he was sad because Jerusalem was broken down with no walls. People just go in and out. The king asked Nehemiah, ‘Well, how can I help you?’ Every time I consider this scripture, it always blows my mind – every single time. When the king asked Nehemiah how he can help, Nehemiah did not ask for time to go and calculate. Nehemiah said, I need this, and I need that. What project are you on currently? If someone were to ask you today, what do you need , can you tell? (Read Nehemiah 2).

A lot of people cannot because they have not done their homework. While you are waiting on God and praying, you must do your homework. So that when God opens the door like He did for Nehemiah, you can seize the opportunity.

Prayer: Father, give me the grace to be ready for the opportunities You are bringing my way, in Jesus Name. Amen!