Thankfully, I’ve had to make few 911 calls in my life, but when I did dial the emergency number, the conversations were short and to the point. There was no time for anything else.
Sometimes prayer is like that, and that’s ok. Though extended times of talking to God about a troubling situation are necessary and beneficial, life often demands an immediate response, and our plea for divine aid must be brief.
“What is it you want?” the king of Persia asked a sad Nehemiah, who had just explained that his downcast face was due to his demolished city(Neh. 2:4). Nehemiah didn’t have time to run to his room, fall on his knees, and spend hours with God deciding what to say. He had to reply right then and right there. So as he breathed in, he appealed to heaven, and as he breathed out, he answered on earth. “Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king”(Neh. 2:5).
911 prayers are an important part of life, and our ever-ready God delights in rushing to our rescue. Nehemiah’s request for a royal leave of absence to rebuild Jerusalem was quickly granted, with the king only wanting to know when Nehemiah would return. Our requests for calm hearts, strong spirits, the right words, or even piles of patience are met with the limitless supply of a gracious Heavenly Father. He wants us to ask for His help—the long way and the short way. Nehemiah had already spent three months grieving, praying, and fasting about this situation. His extended time with God had so tuned his heart to God that when the circumstance became urgent, Nehemiah immediately turned God’s way for help. When you’ve prayed long with concern, you can pray short with confidence.
Sometimes you only have time to say, “God help me!”
And He will.
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