By Rev. Daniel Yaw

Introduction 
The past week ought to be our annual church planning day.  However, something unexpected or rather “somewhat expected”, I contacted covid and upset all those plans.

I sat by my study and ask the Lord, “Why?  Isn’t this day so important?  Why did you not prevent this from happening to me – at least at this time?”

These are some “wrong-timing” kind of questions.  It is like saying, “Lord it is okay if it befall on me but kindly choose the time to do so”.  We often fact such obstacles in our lives as well. 

I simply returned to the Word and began meditating and came upon this verses that I did a devotion study on before.  It is about praying as well.

So guess what?  Yes, I commit that to prayer – recommit my idea for next year’s theme to the Lord, some of my plans that I would be sharing to the Lord. 

I see that in Nehemiah – though seen as a leader of action, he is very much a man of prayer as well.

Nehemiah 2:9-10
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

Plan and Perform
The next action word is "I came" in this two verses.  After all the praying that Nehemiah did, after all the seeking of the Lord, after shouldering all the burden - he moved into action.  He came to the province beyond the River, meeting and governors to perform what God has laid in his heart.

Yet not seen before all his action and plans to perform was his attitude and posture of prayer.  Prayer is important - in fact the most important.  Then the action would be meaningful and guided.  Nehemiah had been weighed down by a burden and he sought the Lord and prayed to Him. Likewise, when God put a burden in our hearts and we began to pray,  God will then open an opportunity whereby we can act.

With Christmas coming, with thoughts of loved ones and friends by whom we can share Jesus, with a burden to pray for them, God will also open opportunities for us to act.

Before Planning and Performing, we must be found Praying too.

Oppose and Overcome
The next thing we see in these verses is the opposition Nehemiah faced right at the onset of this plan and action.  When Sanballat and Tobiah heard about the concern of Nehemiah for Jerusalem, they were greatly displeased.  Here begins their opposition as well.

What did Nehemiah do?  He could have returned to the Persian court or he could face the opposition head-on.  He did the latter.  Doing what God wants us to do will come with opposition but by the grace of God, He has also granted us the strength to overcome.

The "enemy" the devil, will be pleased if we just plan, pray and talk and not do anything.  However, when we begin to act, he also begins his plan to oppose.  While obstacles are foreseen, overcomers of God will also see victory driving through those oppositions.  The covid may be an offset but recognizing God’s purposes, we must also be ready to overcome.  I know that many brothers and sisters have been praying for me.  May we always be united in prayer for one another instead of divided against one another.

May I conclude this article with a prayer:
Lord, with the burden for loved ones and close friends who are lost, with the prayer made before you, then the plans made, with the opposition or ridicule is thrown on me, may I see the power of God in action too as I venture to act upon that which you laid in my heart.  In Jesus' name, Amen.