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Every March the students perform in the play. This year’s play – Here, in the Gates – is set in ancient Israel and includes some of the history of Nehemiah. Please pray that the directors, Ellie Tate and Robin Wiper, will be able to draw out the students’ best collaborative efforts. Pray for the students to rehearse faithfully, and to perform with joy, offering the play as a gift to their audiences. Pray for Michelle Keil and Sydney Lawrence as the producers, and for all the volunteers helping with aspects of the play. Pray that the community will be strengthened as everyone works together.
During one of our chapel times (Opening Doors) in play season, we point students to the life of Nehemiah when he petitions King Artaxerxes to be able to return to the ruins of Jerusalem to rebuild the city. The passage suggests that Nehemiah shot a quick “arrow prayer” to the Lord in the midst of his fraught conversation with the king.
Nehemiah 2:2-5 (NIV)
I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
In the reign of Artaxerxes, appearing sad in the presence of the king could be a capital offense. That’s why Nehemiah was frightened. He tells us that, in the middle of the conversation, he prayed to God (a quick arrow prayer) and then answered the king. His heart’s reflex in a stressful encounter was to turn to the Lord before responding. Is that your heart’s reflex? Are you so accustomed to speaking with the Lord that it is He to whom you turn when distressed? May it be so for each of us. And may we be ruthless in repenting of habits of heart which blunt our communion with the Lord who loves us.