Nehemiah chapter 1

In Nehemiah chapter 1 it says Nehemiah
wept v4
and mourned v4
and fasted v4
and prayed v4
day and night v6
for four months 1:1-2:1
not for himself
but for others v10
when he learned of the great trouble and disgrace of his people, being broken down and destroyed. v2, 3
This is a real man who wept and mourned and fasted and prayed day and night for others.
He was a man like anyone else, he had a full-time job, he was a cupbearer to the king v11
this was not a regular job
in today's standards it would be a job with great responsibility
but it is mentioned almost in passing as if to say, this was not the real focus of Nehemiah.
He was a man who loved God and loved others and His primary job was praying for the salvation of his people.
Even with the great responsibility of his job his greater responsibility was interceding before God for the salvation of others that they would not be destroyed. This is our example of what it means to be a servant of God v11
O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, we have so much to learn from Your servant Nehemiah, we are so different and so focused on the wrong things, change us Lord and help us to be focused on Your glory and the salvation of Your people.

To sit down and pray v4 we can't be in a rush to do these things.

The men of old were men who lived at a much different pace. They walked with God and were attentive to Him.

If we sit down to pray today we become worried after 10 minutes about all the things that need to be take care of and how we should hurry up because of all the things to do.

It is impossible to be God's servant if we live like this. We must learn from Nehemiah to live much differently. O Lord, please help us and teach us.

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

"be still"
not be fearful, nor fretful and impatient, or restless and tumultuous; but be quiet and easy, resigned to the will of God, and live in an assured expectation of the appearance of divine Providence.

"know"
acknowledge that he is God, a sovereign Being that does whatsoever he pleases; that he is unchangeable in his nature, purposes, promises, and covenant; that he is omnipotent, able to help and deliver, omniscient, knows persons, cases, and troubles, that he is the all wise God, and does all things after the counsel of his own will, and makes all things work together for good; that he is faithful to his word and promises.

"I will be exalted among the nations"
when the kingdoms of this world shall become Christ's, and all nations shall come and worship before him, Revelation 11:15. In the destruction of the Heathen; the Papists, the antichristian states; which will cause great rejoicings, hallelujahs, and attributions of honour and glory to him, Revelation 16:5

"I will be exalted in the earth"
now Christ is exalted in heaven at the right hand of God, before long he will be exalted in the earth, where he was despised and rejected, crucified and slain; he will be King over all the earth; his dominion will be from one end of it to the other; his tabernacle will be among men; and his people, as kings and priests, will reign with him on earth; by whom he, and he alone, will be exalted in the dignity of his person and offices, and, especially in his kingly office, Zechariah 14:9. The consideration of which may serve to remove fears and dismayings of mind under present troubles.