Nehemiah prayed, patiently waited, and continued praying for months. But as he was praying, he was also planning.

Nehemiah, as a trusted official to his king, was privy to the inner workings of the palace that ruled the Persian empire. He was consumingly aware that his King of kings gave him this mammoth mission to build the city. He needed many big guns! He was definitely praying and planning hard for months.

So, when asked what he wanted, Nehemiah requested a gamut of audacious requests and resources. Verses 5 to 9 show that it was not a spontaneous but a well thought out plan.

Planning is a spiritual matter and spiritual discipline. The first two chapters of Genesis show that God Himself is a planner. Planning is also a faith in action – it is faith at work.

James 2:14
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

Nehemiah boldly presented his plans that had been brewing and braising in prayers for months.

Big projects require big planning and even bigger persevering prayers.

尼希米祷告，耐心等待，并持续祈祷数月。但他在祈祷的同时，也在计划。

作为国王信任的官员，尼希米了解统治波斯帝国的宫廷内部运作。他非常清楚，他的万王之王赋予了他建造这座城市的巨大使命。他需要很多有巨大影响力的人！他确实祈祷和计划了好几个月。

所以，当被问及想要什么时，尼希米提出了一系列大胆的请求和资源。第5至9节表明这不是一时冲动，而是经过深思熟虑的计划。

规划是一项属灵的事情和属灵的操练。创世纪的前两章表明上帝本人是一个有计划者。规划是行动的信心——也是信念在运作。

雅各书 2：14
弟兄们，如果有人说他有信心却没有行为，这有什么益处？信仰能救他吗？

尼希米大胆地提出了他几个月来在祷告中酝酿和炖煮的计划。

大型项目需要宏大的规划和更持久的祷告。

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