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Nehemiah 1:8-9

⁸Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, ⁹but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.'

Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king of Persia. He had heard that the remnant in Jerusalem was not doing well. The walls of the city were broken down and the gates had been burned. That allowed access to thieves and marauders. This troubled him greatly, so he wept, fasted, and prayed for days confessing his sins and those of his people. In prayer, he recalled the greatness and faithful goodness of God to those who love Him and keep His commands. He recalled the warning of Moses that they would be scattered if they were unfaithful. But then he recalled the promise of returning them to the land if they would return to Him and keep His commandments. Nehemiah was presenting his plea on the basis of the Word of God. He was about to make a request to the king, and the Word of God gave him courage to act on what God was putting in his heart.

When we are seeking the will of God, we, too, should look to God's Word to see if we are acting according to God's will. We can pray the Scriptures. This is not to convince God, but to reassure our hearts that what we are asking lines up with His desires. Doing so emboldens our faith and gives us the courage to step out and act according to what God has put in our heart.

Consider: Consider taking a moment even now to search your heart and see what God is prompting you to do. Is the action supported by the Word? Then pray that Scripture just as Nehemiah did and go forward expecting God to respond.