Praying wth Confidence

God provides
Third, Nehemiah knew the resources of God's provision:

"O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man [the king]" (verse 11).

We can hold two main doubts about God's provision: we can doubt his ability and we can doubt his willingness to provide. We can fear that whatever we need is not in God's hands, or that he will not give it to us.

Is God able to provide? In the beginning of his prayer, Nehemiah pleads for mercy, and toward the end asks for success and favor. In the latter part of his prayer, Nehemiah names things that he wants--things he knows are in the Father's hands. He prays, "Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man [the king]." He is rooted in the conviction that these things he needs are the Lord's to give and not in his limited, human hands.

People who are unaware of God's provisions tend to be anxious. They strategize and seek fulfillment apart from God. The plans made at chapter training camps will be burdens if we think that we somehow have to make them happen. While these plans need excellence and hard work, it is the Lord who can blow success into them and grant us favor with the students and administrators on our campuses. Rather than worry over plans, we can commit them to him. Rather than implement strategies in our own strength, we can trust him. Whatever we need, whether it be healing, success or security, we can know that provision, life, wisdom and strength are in his hand. As the psalmist writes, "When you open your hand, [we] are filled with good things" (Psalm 104:28).

How giving is our God? We may be convinced that he has good things to give, yet be unsure as to whether he will give them to us. Let us once again gaze upon the Cross and listen to the enduring truth that rings out: "He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us--will he not with him also give us everything else?" (Romans 8:32). The highest and most precious in all of heaven and earth is Jesus Himself. There is no one more precious or wonderful than he. God has given fully, without holding back his innocent Son to die for our sins. The Cross is a symbol of the generosity of our God. This is the place where God has given us himself. Why wouldn't he give us other things that are needful to us?