1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hello, thank you for listening to your Daily 2 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: Bible Verse, the podcast that examines one verse each day 3 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: to learn more about God and his will for us. 4 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Standifer Slattery, and after this short word 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: from our sponsors, we'll dive into today's Bible verse Neamiah 6 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: two one. Today's Bible versus Neamiah to to one in 7 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: the month of Nissan in the twentieth year of our 8 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: desert seas, when wine was brought for him, I took 9 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: the wine and gave it to the king. I had 10 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: not been sad in his presence before. Do you ever 11 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: find yourself paralyzed by certain decisions, particularly those that feel 12 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: highly consequential, or when you have too many options? Or 13 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: do you ever respond in the opposite way and jump 14 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: into action only to regret this later. I can vacillate 15 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: between both responses, although I predominantly land in the act 16 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: first and think later. Category. Recently, I hit some career 17 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: challenges that triggered some of my insecurities that coupled with 18 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: my recovering type hey personality, caused me to waste a 19 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: lot of time and energy trying to solve something for 20 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: which I later learned I was missing a key piece 21 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: of information. While I prayed more than once for God's help, 22 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: I didn't specifically seek his guidance until all my attempts failed. 23 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: Then I did what I should have done from the beginning. 24 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: I asked the Lord for his perfect wisdom. He responded, 25 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: and by midday I'd figured out the main issue. Less 26 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: than twenty four hours later, my ministry partner and I 27 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: develop a workable plan because we are now focused on 28 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: the correct problem. I ungrateful for the clear path forward. 29 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: I'm disappointed in the productivity loss due to my stubborn 30 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: self reliance. When will my subconscious learn that I'm not 31 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: nearly as smart and strategic as I think, at least 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 1: apart from the Holy Spirit with his influence. However, I'm 33 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: absolutely brilliant, as are you. I thought about that instance 34 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: and the internal chaos I needlessly created as I read 35 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 1: the first two chapters of Nehemiah. In this section of scripture, 36 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: he encountered a major dilemma that brought great distress. He'd 37 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: learned that a group of Jews who'd returned to Israel 38 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: with an abundance of material blessings to rebuild their beloved 39 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: city and its walls and repair the temple hadn't completed 40 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: what the Lord sent them to do. They began with passion, faith, hope, 41 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: and determination, but stalled, then quit when opposition hit, presumably 42 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: never to resume, at least not without some clear redirects 43 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: from God. I discuss this section of scripture and relation 44 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: to the ongoing opposition more deeply in a three part 45 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:10,119 Speaker 1: mini series on the Faith Over Fear podcast that discusses 46 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: how God prepares us to face opposition, helps us thrive 47 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: despite the opposition we encounter, and how we can experience 48 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: increased intimacy with Jesus through it. If you currently find 49 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: yourself wrestling with challenges that tempt you to withdraw, I 50 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: encourage you to listen to those episodes linked in the 51 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: show notes. In the passage surrounding today's verse, I wonder if, 52 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: upon learning about all that was occurring back in Jerusalem, 53 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: if Nehemiah felt innerds to act to gather as many 54 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: able bodied men as possible and journey back to his 55 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: home land to try to solve the problem, or did 56 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: he wrestle with a sense of helplessness that tempted him 57 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: to do nothing. Scripture doesn't reveal what all went on 58 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: with him internally instead, it shows how he responded. He 59 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: turned to God for wisdom and guidance and didn't do 60 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: anything as far as that situation was concerned. For months, 61 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: Niamiyah waited until the perfect spirit led time to speak 62 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: to one of the most powerful men in the ancient world, 63 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: someone who in fact could do something about the problem. 64 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: And here's what strikes me most. I'm certain it was 65 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: because Neamiah sought God before acting that he experienced the 66 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: results he did. Four months after he learned about Jerusalem's condition, 67 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: the Persian king whom Niamiah served, noticed he looked sad 68 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: and asked him why. Scripture tells us Neamiah was very 69 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: much afraid because he'd never shown sorrow in the king's presence. 70 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 1: Scholars suggest doing so might have been illegal. At this point. 71 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: Neamiah could have powered behind a quick I'm fine, your majesty. Instead, 72 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: he spoke with honesty and courage, likely fortified each time 73 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: he connected with the Lord, and he was able to 74 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: express the reason for his grief and concern. Our tezerk sees. 75 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:14,799 Speaker 1: The king responded, what would you request? Yet again, Niamiah prayed. 76 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: There he stood before a figurative open door one, no doubt, 77 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: opened by the Almighty something no doubt he recognized. But 78 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: still he sought God before walking through it. Only then 79 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: did he answer the king. In verse five, he said, 80 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: if it pleased the King, and if your servant has 81 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: found favor before you send me to Judah, to the 82 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: city of my father's tombs, that I may rebuild it. 83 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: That was no small ask. Remember, he was employed by 84 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: the king in an important role, and here he was 85 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: asking not only for a lot of time off, if 86 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: not in early retirement, as if that was a thing 87 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: in a royal court in ancient Persia, but he was 88 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: wanting to return to his home country and invest his time. 89 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: I'm an energy in building something that not only wouldn't 90 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: benefit the king, but what actually cost him in terms 91 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: of a lost workforce. Yet the king granted Neamiah's request because, 92 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: according to verse eight, the hand of God was on him. 93 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: Neamiahs sat God, waited on God, received favor and guidance 94 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: from God, and recognized that it indeed had come from 95 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: God once it king. That was the basis of Neamiah's calm, 96 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 1: confidence and courage. I want to follow his example in 97 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: part because they want to experience similar results. I want 98 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: to live in God's favor, aligned with his heart, empowered 99 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: and led by the most brilliant and strategic mind in 100 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: the known universe and beyond. I also want to live 101 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: with the confidence of knowing that I am indeed walking 102 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: according to His purposes. And there are only two interconnected 103 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 1: ways I know how to do that, and that's by 104 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: reading His general reveald will in scripture and seeking his 105 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: unique plans for me and my situation through prayer. I 106 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: invite you to join me. What if you made persistent, 107 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: patient prayer a habit and learn to seek and wait 108 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: on God before acting. Can you imagine the beautiful fruit 109 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: you might see, the effectiveness you might enjoy, and pressure, 110 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: the peace you might experience from being faithfully perfectly led 111 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: by almighty Creator. And if that feels like a really 112 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: big task, break it down. What if you were to 113 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: spend five minutes twice a day to sit in His presence, 114 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: to seek his perspective and to listen for his voice. 115 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: How might that ten minutes transform your life, your relationships, 116 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: your work environment, every situation you encounter. And I'm asking 117 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: myself the same question. I want to live perfectly led 118 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: by Almighty Creator God. I wonder if perhaps you do 119 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:06,239 Speaker 1: as well. Let's pray, Holy Father, we are so grateful 120 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: that we don't have to figure everything out in our 121 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: own wisdom. We don't have to pursue any task in 122 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: our own strength. At every moment, you give us everything 123 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: we need to do whatever it is you place before us. 124 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: Sometimes our thoughts get jumbled, and so we ask you 125 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: to untangle them. When fear rises up and pulls us 126 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: towards self reliance. Help us to hit pause and just 127 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: sit in your presence. Receive your presence, your love, and 128 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: day by day surround us, Holy Spirit. We need you, 129 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: We long to hear you more clearly. We pray that 130 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,199 Speaker 1: you would remove every lie, every deception in our brains, 131 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: and that you would replace those things with your life 132 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: giving truth. That you would turn our hearts to follow you, 133 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 1: moment by moment and day by day. Help us to prioritize, 134 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: even if it's just five minutes a day, that we 135 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: would prioritize our relationship with you, so that we are 136 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: building those habits that lead to thriving life, that lead 137 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: to deeper intimacy with you, and for sure that lead 138 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: to less regret and greater peace. Thank you so much 139 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: for the gift of your son that has allowed us 140 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: to live empowered by the Holy Spirit, and we yield 141 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: to you. We know that your ways our best, your 142 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: wisdom is perfect, your power is inconquerable, and your love 143 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: is never ending. Remind us of those truths when we 144 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: face opposition, when we hit a situation we don't know 145 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: how to solve, Remind us that you do, and you'll 146 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: walk beside us every moment. It is in the name 147 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we pray Amen.