Hi friends, I hit a writer’s block a while ago. I’ve had so many things to write that I’ve not written anything. There’s a passion burning deep within me for the development and emancipation of my country, Nigeria.

I’ve been studying the Bible for a while now and I’ve been looking at Nehemiah and his exploits written in the book of Nehemiah. Let me give you some back ground info. The news of the desolation and ruin of Jerusalem came to Nehemiah while he was serving under  Artaxarxes, the then emperor.

The news of desolation of Jerusalem brought a great burden upon Nehemiah’s heart that led him to fast and pray many days and cry to God for God to listen to him and grant him favour before the king, for he was the king’s cupbearer.

Even though Nehemiah was in a strange land (diaspora), His heart was yearning for his Nation. He never for once forgot his roots. He constantly desired the prosperity and advancement of his Nation. 

And though he had risen quite high on the social ladder where he was, he counted it his failure, if Jerusalem failed.

Nigeria is my own Jerusalem. There’s no where else but Nigeria that I can call home. Nigeria is my home. The desolation of this country is and remains a burden on my heart all the time.

Nehemiah in praying to God took the breaking down of the walls of Jerusalem as his own fault. He asked God for mercy collectively for the sins the Israelites had committed and asked for forgiveness because they were collectively repenting and turning back to God even though it was just him who was doing so.

He stood in the gap for his country. He believed that what happens to one happens to all and all will need one who’ll take responsibility to deliver the rest from desolation.

Nehemiah in his prayers to God did not ask God to rebuild or facilitate miraculously the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem. He took responsibility for it in his prayers and asked God to cause the king to have compassion on him when he presented his case - ”The re-building of Jerusalem’s wall”

Neh 2:1  In the month of Nisan, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, after some wine was brought for the king, I picked up the cup of wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence before. 

Neh 2:2  The king asked me, “Why do you look so sad? You aren’t sick, are you? You must be troubled about something.” (I was really afraid.) 

Neh 2:3  ”May the king live forever!” I said to the king. “Why shouldn’t I look sad when the city, the place where my ancestors are buried, is in ruins and its gates are burned down?” 

Neh 2:4  ”What do you want?” the king asked me. So I prayed to the God of heaven, 

Neh 2:5  and I asked the king, “If it pleases Your Majesty, and you are willing to grant my request, let me go to Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild it.”

Once a burden (National) has been put on your heart. It becomes almost completely impossible to go around in the same manner as before. Nehemiah’s countenance was so sad that the King noticed it when he went to give him wine. The burden of Jerusalem’s ruin wouldn’t allow him return to his normal emotions. 

He became so consumed by the liberation of his country that his visage changed completely. The king even noticed it and commented about it. You cannot be consumed with a passion and it would not show. Those around you must be able to see and feel your passion. If it doesn’t permeate the air and environment around you, then you are not passionate enough about it.

Nehemiah took the risk of the king’s displeasure at his countenance just because of this burden he carried. What am I willing to risk to deliver the future. Who’s displeasure is too valuable for me ?

Nehemiah prayed to God while asking the King what was really consuming Him. And God gave him favour. I need to be in motion to get swift and effective answers from God to my prayers. It is allowed to “pray as you go” and not wait all the time for physical manifestation of answers before I move. His word says “These signs shall follow them who believe”…

Motion is a prerequisite for signs and wonders.

Neh 2:6  The king, with the queen sitting alongside him, said, “How long will your work take and when would you expect to return?” I gave him a time, and the king gave his approval to send me. 

The King gave Nehemiah approval and even furnished him with man and material to build the wall. He also sent him protection and gave him good will.

When I have a burden, the responsibility of the solution usually lies with me. If I take that responsibility, I would experience access at unbelievable levels.

Neh 2:7  Then I said, “If it please the king, provide me with letters to the governors across the Euphrates that authorize my travel through to Judah; 

Neh 2:8  and also an order to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, to supply me with timber for the beams of The Temple fortress, the wall of the city, and the house where I’ll be living.” The generous hand of my God was with me in this and the king gave them to. 

The secret of success is to ask. No one can on his own solve the problem of a Nation. He needs help and will get it only if he asks it.