Open Eyes Prayers

November 30, 2023

”Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.“ —Nehemiah 4:7-9 

Whenever we determine to do God’s work, opposition is certain to follow, and when it comes, prayer is not enough. We must also be on our guard, alert to what is happening around us and to the schemes of the Enemy. It is easy to get so wrapped up in prayer that we become oblivious to the Enemy’s plots to destroy us. 

We do ourselves no favors when we plunge into God’s work without considering how Satan might attempt to sabotage it. Many a pastor has dutifully prayed, diligently studied the Scriptures, but failed to notice the danger signals when counseling, particularly those of the opposite sex. Many others have been so intent on building the ministry that they let down their guard, began believing the press about them, and slowly slid down the greasy path towards financial unaccountability and finally, to greed.

Nehemiah understood that the work of God would inspire opposition, and set a guard against it. His workers ended up dividing their time between working on the wall and acting as an armed militia, protecting those doing the work at the time. It slowed down the work, but failure to account for the opposition would have cratered the entire project. 

Pray. Of course, pray! But do so with your eyes open, lest you defeat your own prayers.