Sometimes we need God’s guidance and direction NOW! Not later today. Not tomorrow. Not next month. But right now! Maybe it’s needing to know what to say when hostilely confronted by someone. Maybe it’s needing directions about which way to turn when you come to an unfamiliar intersection. Maybe it’s needing guidance whether that secondhand car in your new host country is really a good deal or one to run from. All these real-life situations need emergency guidance to help us make the right decisions immediately.

Nehemiah found himself in that situation when the king inquired about Nehemiah’s sad demeanor and further asked what was needed to make things better. Nehemiah was given this golden opportunity to have the ear of the king. The NLT version of Nehemiah 2:4 translates to the king asking, “Well, how can I help you?”. The one who had everything at his disposal (money, people, resources, authority, etc.) was asking how he could assist in this situation. This is a time when you want to get it right. Nehemiah didn’t want to waste this chance by asking for the wrong things. So, what did he do? He prayed to the God of heaven.

Oh, how I love that we can do the same when we find ourselves in these ‘need to know now’ moments! I love that the God of Nehemiah is still the same God for us today. We can send up our emergency prayers that need immediate attention and a response from the wise all-knowing God of heaven. We don’t need to rely on our own limited human intellect for answers to pressing matters in our lives. Prayer is not to be confined to a certain time of day, specific locations or certain postures. God waits for our invitations. He desires for us to cry out to Him, acknowledging our need for Him to direct our steps and then trusting Him to guide us to what’s best in every aspect (whether big or small) of our lives.

Nehemiah’s prayer was his invitation to God to step into the matter. God faithfully guided Nehemiah in what to specifically ask the king for in that short span of time. God wants to do the same for us. There is nothing too big or too small to seek God about. God loves us and every day He waits to reveal His love to us. So, remember to seek God for those urgent, pressing issues that He may guide and direct you for His glory and for you to experience His faithful presence and provision!