Praying For Success

O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.

Nehemiah 1:11

Nehemiah, cupbearer for King Artaxerxes, understood that success is often dependent on numerous factors, including the response of other people. So he approached God in prayer about his plan to return to Judea to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. He knew the success of his plans would depend on God influencing the heart of the king. Later, Nehemiah boldly presented his plan to the king. “The king granted these requests,” Nehemiah said, “because the gracious hand of God was on me” (Nehemiah 2:8).

God knows our needs, and he wants us to succeed in those plans that honor him. Take your plans to God in prayer. Ask that you might honor his name through your plans, and then pray that God might grant you success.

• Dear Lord, I delight in honoring you. Please grant me success . . .