"Praying When the Pressure's On"

Sometimes we’re in the midst of decision making, or responding to a situation in the work environment and we’re required to make a quick decision.  How often do we have the thought, “Let me pray about this before I respond”?  I know that when I’m in that situation that thought process rarely crosses my mind.  Even thinking, “I wish I had time to pray about it” is rare.

I know that when I’m in that situation that thought process rarely crosses my mind.  Even thinking, “I wish I had time to pray about it” is rare.

I know I've read this passage before and this never caught my attention, but in Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah is carrying out his duties with King Artaxerxes and the king notices that Nehemiah appears downcast and says, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.”  Nehemiah was down about the state of a remnant of his people and the condition of the city of his forefathers, Jerusalem.  Then the king asks him, “What would you request?”

Here Nehemiah is with the king putting him on the spot with this question.  Would my typical response be to pray before I answer the question.  I think not.  But that is precisely what Nehemiah did.  The king is waiting for an answer and Nehemiah decides to pray.  I’m sure it wasn't a long, drawn-out prayer, but his response was, “..So I prayed to the God of heaven.”  And I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

If I were to practice this it would also help me to be “quick to hear and slow to speak”...James 1:19

I need to seek God’s input a lot more than I do.

Lord, I beg that You grant me the clarity of thought to first seek Your wisdom in ALL my decision making and actions.

Ron Bishop

Member of the Prayer Commission

Quail Lakes Baptist Church, Stockton, CA