It always surprises me. I guess it shouldn't. But so often, after I preach a message person after person will come up to me and will say something like, "It's like you are looking in the windows of my house! I know you didn't preach the message just for me but you have no idea how much I needed that message for my life and what I'm facing right now." (And now there are few of you thinking, "He's talking about me!" - but honestly there are more than just you who say that!)

That's how God works. His word does not return to him empty. It is so cool to see God at work.

Today I want to ask you one question ... are you patient in your prayers? I mean here we are, about a week and a half out from the day I asked you to become one of the Pastors' Prayer Partners-are you still persistent in prayer? Are you still praying with your "eyes wide open"? Are you eagerly attentive to what God will do, or are you getting impatient and hurrying through your prayers?

Sometimes I feel that our prayers are something like, "Lord please give me patience ... and give it to me NOW!!!!" I mentioned Nehemiah in my first prayer email as one of the examples of someone who prayed before a great movement of God was realized. But let me hit just one detail about His prayer life. Before he did anything, he prayed - for four months he prayed. That's patience.

Have you ever been disillusioned in prayer? You prayed. You asked. You prayed some more ... and nothing happened. Did you ever feel like maybe God isn't listening to your prayers? Imagine the agony Nehemiah felt as he waited in prayer for those four months ... for 120 days nothing changed, nothing changed, nothing changed, nothing changed. But he prayed.

And then in one day ... on the appointed day ... on the day of God's choosing ... everything changed.

• Nehemiah had the audience with the King he had awaited.
• Nehemiah whispered one last prayer to his Eternal King.
• He presented his request to the earthly king.
• Permission is secured.
• Safe passage is granted.
• Resources are provided.
• And beyond everything already granted the King sends a cavalry with Nehemiah ... royal reinforcements to guarantee that the dream WILL be accomplished.

There is something to be said for patience in prayer ... fully expecting that there is an appointed day ... a day of God's choosing ... when the flood gates of heaven open and God answers in an undeniable, incredible, awe-inspiring way.

Like the psalmist who penned the 40th Psalm, Nehemiah could have said, "I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened." (Psalm 40:1 - Message)