55-Days Devotional Journey - Day 27
June 27, 2025 (Friday)

Scripture:
And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 1:5–11 (ESV)

Reflection:
Nehemiah had a burden he couldn’t fix by himself. The walls of Jerusalem were in ruins, the people were vulnerable, and his heart was broken. But before he made any move, he fell to his knees. Day and night, he prayed. He confessed. He fasted. He pleaded for God’s favor, asking that the Lord would open the right door at the right time with the right king. It wasn’t just a one-time prayer—it was a season of prayer. A long, patient, desperate kind of prayer.

That reminds me of a season in my own life that felt just like that. It was my first time pastoring full-time in the U.S., and I had poured my heart into the church, only to be told—without warning—that my visa application had been denied. I had to pack everything and leave. Just like that, I was back in Taiwan, not knowing what would happen next. For four long months, I felt lost. We had no answers, no timeline, and honestly, no control. All we could do was pray.

But something beautiful happened during that waiting. The church I had left behind began to pray with us, not just for us. We weren’t alone. People checked in, fasted, cried, and sought God’s will with us. In that time of uncertainty, God was doing something deeper: uniting our hearts, strengthening our faith, and aligning us with His will. I didn’t see it right away—but just like Nehemiah, I learned that prayer doesn’t just prepare us for the mission. Sometimes, prayer is the mission. Because it’s in prayer that God reshapes our vision, restores our peace, and releases His favor in ways we never expected.

Reflection Question:
Is there something in your life right now that feels completely out of your control? What would it look like to bring it to God day and night like Nehemiah did?

Prayer:
Lord, when I don’t know what to do, teach me to pray. Help me to trust that You are always working— even in seasons of silence, waiting, and confusion. Unify Your people through prayer. Give us eyes to see what You are doing, and hearts that seek Your favor above all else. Amen.

By Pastor James Su