3 Keys To Clarity And Purpose
Looking for something new? Are you desiring a meaningful and impactful life? Not sure what to do? The book of Nehemiah is a great place to start. It gives us great insight on how to deal with any major changes in our lives. There are no miracles, no people healed, no rivers parted. There is just one man, with clear vision, committed to a Godly purpose that lie deep in his heart, who takes action.
Image courtesy of: sfloptometry
Scripture:
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” – Nehemiah 1:4
Observation/Application:
When it comes to leadership and purpose, there is so much we can learn in Nehemiah. Today’s scripture highlights a few invaluable nuggets that lie at the very foundation of accomplishment and purpose. These three things are:
- Start With The Heart – When Nehemiah hears about those who survived the exile and are disgraced and suffering, it falls heavy upon his heart. We know that it starts in Nehemiah’s heart because he weeps. The heart is the key to purpose and achievement. Lasting greatness begins with a great purpose that rises from the heart.
- Pray Earnestly – The first thing Nehemiah does is pray. Prayer is like plowing the fields, or paving the streets. Praying clears the way for God to start working, and to start moving. When something hits our heart, and when we are compelled by something, the first thing we should do is pray and lean on God for clarity and understanding. God will make clear his calling and let us know if we are to do something, or not.
- Fast – This is something that appears multiple times throughout the Bible, and very clearly here in Nehemiah. Fasting opens up a whole other level of God for us. Jesus tells us that some things can only be achieved through prayer AND fasting. It’s like fertilizer on the field, or a nitrous fuel boost to a racing engine. Fasting can help us go faster, and open doors that would otherwise not be opened. (You can find more on fasting in other journal entries at this website.)
There are so many books on “how to” do things. But what I love about today’s scripture is that it gives us insight into what we should do before we even begin. These three things outlines in Nehemiah give us the very foundation of anything new that we are considering. This applies to starting a new job, a new relationship, a new project, a new company, a new place of residence, and even helping us with clarity and direction on a new life purpose.
If you are beginning something new, or even thinking about it, I would encourage you to read Nehemiah. Today’s scripture just scratches the surface. There is so much more incredible insight within these 13 short chapters. Discernment, leadership, and purpose lie at the very core, helping ensure that we make wise choices on what we should be doing before we invest a bunch of time and effort on the wrong thing.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Let your Word fill us, renew us, and refresh us. Help us to know your calling for us Lord. Make clear in our hearts and minds what you want us to do Lord. Let us turn to you in prayer. Give us strength and courage to fast Lord. Although we may not understand, help us to just trust in you Lord and be faithful. Cleanse and purify us from the inside out. Fill us with nothing but all of your goodness. Help us to be close to you all throughout the day today. We seek you first, and give you all the honor and glory in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
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