Nehemiah's Request

 If you have never checked out this story in the book of Nehemiah, it's a good one.  This man was the wine taster for King Artaxerxes.  Now we have wine testers, these days, but this was an important position at the time of this story.  When Nehemiah took the wine and handed it to the king, he noticed that Nehemiah was 'sad', and Nehemiah became 'dreadfully afraid'.  Guess your not supposed to show your emotions to the king you are handing the wine to.  Anyway, the king asked him what he wanted...'what do you request'?  

Here's what I claim today..."So I prayed to the God of heaven."  He boldly asked the king not only for permission to go rebuild the city walls of Judah, but for letters to pass through providences and letters to request timbers to make beams for the work.   Bold!  And the kind said yes and if you read the whole story, even though he had much opposition - surprisingly from those who should have been in favor of this move, he persevered and did indeed rebuild the city walls and then dedicated it all back to God.  

So what does this story have to do with us?  Today?  In our families? Our culture?  Well, what 'wall' needs to be rebuilt?  What request should be boldly made to The King of Kings?  There is one that is heavy on my mind this morning, so I am asking with the same resolve and boldness as Nehemiah.  I hope you can also.  Grace and Peace on this Sabbath...