2025 Lent Devotional – Day 8

Lent Devotional: Day 8
Help from heaven assures Success!
Meena Baraiya

Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer in the citadel of Shushan during Babylonian exile. Hanani, one of his brothers came with men from Judah. Nehemiah enquired about the Jews, God’s chosen people who had survived captivity and about Jerusalem, God’s chosen city. Hanani reported that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and its gates were burned, and the people are in great distress and reproach. On hearing this Nehemiah sat down and wept and mourned for many days.

Nehemiah fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. He prayed, “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God…. Please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now…we have sinned against You.” God heard his cry and sent help by putting a plan in his heart, granted the king’s favor and provided all the resources for rebuilding the broken walls.

As Nehemiah was a cupbearer, he offered wine to the king. Wine reminds “Cheers!” How sweet, the king noticed that Nehemiah was sad, and he asked, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? Nehemiah replied, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my father’s tombs, lies waste and its gates are burned with fire?” The king asked for his request and granted his request to go and rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.

Nehemiah started rebuilding work despite heavy opposition. He invested his love, care, fasting, mourning, hard work and wise actions, backed up by the God of heaven. When opposed by rebels and enemies of God, he courageously stood firm against them, declaring: “The God of heaven will HELP US SUCCEED. We, His servants, will start rebuilding this wall. (Nehemiah 2:20 – NLT). Help from heaven brought success to Nehemiah’s mission! The broken wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in just 52 days!

Today, our walls of Salvation and altars of Praise (Isaiah 60:18) are broken and burnt. Are we concern like Nehemiah? What is our first response? Are we connected to the God of heaven that our fasting and prayer would bring down help from heaven?

God of heaven help us and use us to rebuild the broken walls and altars. Help us to be like Nehemiah. In Jesus name, Amen!