HUNGER FOR FAVOUR

…Remember me favourably, my God – Nehemiah 13:31b (NIV)

When God puts a hunger for it in your heart, you will passionately pray for His favour until you encounter it! Your hunger for favour must remain urgent, until “favour becomes your name” – until people begin to testify that you are truly favoured!

Nehemiah was one man who knew the potency of the force of favour. His final recorded words were in the form of a Prayer for favour: “…Remember me favourably, my God” (Neh.13:31b). The earlier chapters of the Book of Nehemiah record how God put the vision of a gigantic project in Nehemiah’s heart, for which favour was required, requested and granted. This cup-bearer to a heathen king fasted and prayed before the God of heaven: “O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man…” (Neh.1:11). In other words: “Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence…” (Neh.1:11, NIV).

By God’s favour, the king granted Nehemiah favour to go back to Jerusalem to accomplish what God had put into his heart. More than once he prayed: “Remember me favourably, my God” (Neh.5:19; 13:31). There are two ways by which God can remember a person: either for Judgement (Neh.13:29) or for Favour! In Nehemiah’s case, the result was remarkable! In just fifty-two days, he and his beleaguered colleagues rebuilt the entire wall around Jerusalem, despite the less than ideal circumstances. He received what each of us has the potential to receive: God’s favour. In granting us His favour, God often gives us the favour of those in authority over us, around us, and with us. God’s favour enables us to do what man says is impossible (Matt.19:26). This is more pronounced when we are driven by Kingdom priorities, as in the case of Nehemiah.