NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passages: Nehemiah 2:1-8, 17-18
Discussion Questions: When an opportunity presents itself, what role does prayer play at that moment? What do your prayer habits reveal about your dependence upon God?
Food for Thought:
Television programs about camera crews approaching do-it-yourselfers in home improvement stores fascinate me. Design experts find some couple looking at bathroom fixtures or kitchen cabinets and offer to help them remodel a room in their house. Some people turn them down while others jump at the opportunity. My wife and I have debated how we would respond if we were one of the couples approached. We disagree on whether we would take the offer (it would depend on the room), but we agree on our initial response: a deep breath.
King Artaxerxes opened the door for Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem when he invited Nehemiah to make his request (Nehemiah 2:4a). Nehemiah had been praying for the restoration of Jerusalem and now the opportunity was staring him in the face. Nehemiah took a deep breath and in that moment prayed before answering the king. He may have thanked God for answering his previous prayers, or he may have asked for wisdom to respond properly. We are not told what he prayed, just that he prayed.
An old saying many of us have been taught is to think before we speak. We should take a deep breath, gather our thoughts, think through what to say and how it might be received, and then speak. There have been many times I wish I had followed that advice. There is wisdom in this saying, but the problem is the phrase elevates our wisdom, our preparation and our ability. Nehemiah would tell us to pray before we speak, depending upon the Lord’s wisdom, the Lord’s preparation and the Lord’s ability. One must wonder how many opportunities we have botched by thinking instead of praying before we speak. May we follow Nehemiah’s example in the future, thanking God for the opportunity and then relying on Him to direct us as we move forward.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at www.LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.–30–
Dwayne McCrary is the Project Team Leader of the adult and young adult Explore the Bible teams. You can follow Explore the Bible on Twitter @ExploreTheBible.
