On hearing of the ruined walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah turned to God in prayer, mourning and fasting. Our initial response to God should be to come to Him first.
In the book of Nehemiah, we witness a powerful example of responding to God’s invitation. Nehemiah, upon hearing of the ruined walls of Jerusalem, was deeply burdened. Instead of immediately seeking solutions, he turned to God in prayer, mourning and fasting. This act exemplifies a vital principle: our initial response to God should be to come to Him, just as a child seeks comfort in a parent’s arms.
Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1:3-11 reveals his heart. He recognized God’s invitation to partner in restoring the community. This invitation mirrors God’s continuous call to us, as seen in Isaiah’s “Here am I. Send me!” and Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
“We are invited to make a pilgrimage into the heart and life of God.”
Dallas Willard
Trevor Hudson’s story of the unopened invitation serves as a poignant reminder of the opportunities we may miss when we are too busy to hear God’s call.
Our response to God’s invitation is not about our strength or worthiness, but about our willingness to come as we are. Like Adam and Eve, we may feel shame and guilt, but through Jesus, we are reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
We are adopted as children of God, and Romans 8:14-15 reminds us that we can cry, “Abba, Father.”
“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” – Tim Keller
When we respond to God’s invitation, we offer ourselves to Him. God works with what we give Him, not with what we can achieve in our own strength. As Philippians 2:13 states, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
The enemy wants us to hide, like Adam and Eve, or to become busy with religious activities without genuine love for God, like the church in Ephesus. But Jesus calls us to remain in His love (John 15:9), bearing fruit through our connection to Him (John 15:4).
For reflection:
- Where in your daily life do you sense God extending an invitation to you?
- How do you typically respond to God’s invitations? Are you quick to answer, or do you find yourself hesitant?
- Are there “unopened invitations” from God buried under the busyness of your life? If so, how can you uncover them?
- Do you struggle with feelings of unworthiness that keep you from coming to God? How can you embrace your identity as a child of God?
- What practical steps can you take to offer yourself to God in your weakness, trusting that He will work through you?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your constant invitation to come to you. We acknowledge the times we have been too busy or too burdened to hear your call. Forgive us for the unopened invitations we have ignored. Help us to recognize your voice in our daily lives and to respond with “Here I am.” Lord, we bring our weaknesses and burdens before you, trusting that your grace is sufficient. Work in us, through us, and for us, that we may bear fruit and fulfill your purposes. We thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus, who reconciled us to you, and for the gift of your Spirit, who allows us to call you “Abba, Father.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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