#5 - Kyle Thompson // So I Prayed - The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: The Daily Blade Episode #5 - Kyle Thompson // So I Prayed

Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Title: So I Prayed
Podcast Description: The Daily Blade, hosted by Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life, is a short-form devotional show that equips Christians to apply the Word of God to their everyday lives.

Introduction

In Episode #5 of The Daily Blade, Kyle Thompson delves deep into the life of Nehemiah, emphasizing the profound impact of prayer in the face of adversity. Joined by co-host Joby Martin, Kyle provides insightful reflections aimed at equipping Christian men for their daily spiritual battles.

Nehemiah's Role and Significance

Kyle begins by recounting Nehemiah’s pivotal role as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, a position of immense trust and responsibility. He highlights the delicacy of Nehemiah’s role, where even displaying sadness could be misconstrued as weakness or a threat to the king’s life.

“King Artaxerxes fancied himself a God, okay? A living, breathing deity. That's what he thought he was. So if you were to be granted access to the presence of, you know, a living little God, then you would have no reason to be sad, right?”
— Kyle Thompson [00:45]

The Courage to Show Vulnerability

Kyle points out the remarkable courage Nehemiah exhibited by openly displaying his sorrow over the ruined state of Jerusalem, despite the potential dangers. This act of vulnerability was unprecedented, especially in a court where emotional expressions were closely monitored.

“Nehemiah does some cleanup work, but then eventually tells the king that there is no way he can avoid the sadness because of the state of Jerusalem and her people.”
— Kyle Thompson [02:10]

The Power of Prayer Before Action

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Nehemiah’s response to the king’s inquiry about his sadness. Instead of immediately presenting his plans, Nehemiah chooses to pray, demonstrating humility and dependence on God.

“What does he do? First, he prayed. He stops himself from just coming out with his request, with his plan in order to pause and consult with the Creator.”
— Kyle Thompson [03:05]

Kyle challenges listeners to reflect on their own practices regarding prayer:

“Do you default to prayer? Or is prayer just a last resort? Honestly, I'll say, for me, I tend to lean on my own wisdom because I believe, and others do as well, that I've been given the gift of discernment...”
— Kyle Thompson [03:45]

He emphasizes the importance of making prayer a foundational step rather than an afterthought.

Practical Application: Making Prayer a Priority

Drawing from Nehemiah’s example, Kyle encourages listeners to incorporate prayer into their decision-making processes consistently. He suggests that even those confident in their discernment can benefit from seeking divine guidance before taking action.

“But even if that is the case, right, even if I'm right and a lot of those other people are right, all of us certainly me included, would do well to pause and pray to the God of heaven before we act.”
— Kyle Thompson [04:00]

Challenge to Listeners

Closing his segment, Kyle issues a challenge to the audience:

“I challenge you to do that today. See you tomorrow.”
— Kyle Thompson [04:10]

He urges listeners to prioritize prayer in their daily lives, ensuring that their actions align with God’s will and guidance.

Conclusion

Episode #5 of The Daily Blade offers a compelling exploration of Nehemiah’s story, highlighting the essential role of prayer in leadership and personal decision-making. Through Kyle Thompson’s insightful commentary, listeners are reminded of the power and necessity of seeking God’s guidance in every aspect of their lives.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

“King Artaxerxes fancied himself a God, okay? A living, breathing deity. That's what he thought he was...” — Kyle Thompson [00:45]
“Nehemiah does some cleanup work, but then eventually tells the king that there is no way he can avoid the sadness because of the state of Jerusalem and her people.” — Kyle Thompson [02:10]
“What does he do? First, he prayed...” — Kyle Thompson [03:05]
“Do you default to prayer? Or is prayer just a last resort?...” — Kyle Thompson [03:45]
“But even if that is the case... would do well to pause and pray to the God of heaven before we act.” — Kyle Thompson [04:00]
“I challenge you to do that today. See you tomorrow.” — Kyle Thompson [04:10]

Join the Hosts in Person

Don’t miss the opportunity to join Pastor Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Secure your seat today at mensconference.com.

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions and practical Christian teachings on The Daily Blade as Kyle and Joby continue to equip men for their spiritual journeys.

Loading summary

Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:19]
B
We were introduced to Nehemiah yesterday. Out of reverence for God and trusting in God's provision, Nehemiah fervently prayed for the land and the people of his forefathers. So the first chapter ended with us being told that Nehemiah's job is cup bearer for King Artaxerxes. So not only would he do what he could to make sure that the king did not have his food or drink tampered with because poisoning was a common assassination tactic in those days, he would actually do that duty for the entire royal court. Okay? So needless to say, he was a really, really important person that had a really important job that required a lot of trust from the king. So let's go back to the text here. We're gonna go Nehemiah 2, starting in verse 1. In the month of Nassan, in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, why is your face sad? Seeing you are not sick, this is nothing but sadness of the heart. Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, let the king live forever. Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of my father's graves, lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire? Then the king said to me, what are you requesting? So I prayed to the God of heaven and I said to the king, if it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves, that I may rebuild it. And the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, how long will you be gone and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, if it pleases the king, let letters be given to me to the governors of the province beyond the river that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah. And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall occupy. And the king granted me what I asked for. The good hand of my God was upon me. Okay, guys, so let's talk about this. King Artaxerxes fancied himself a God, okay? A living, breathing deity. That's what he thought he was. So if you were to be granted access to the presence of, you know, a living little G God, then you would have no reason to be sad, right? So just by looking sad, Nehemiah was literally risking his life. So we can see that in the text because Nehemiah said that he was very much afraid after Artaxerxes directly asked him why he looked so sad. So Nehemiah does some cleanup work, but then eventually tells the king that there is no way he can avoid the sadness because of the state of Jerusalem and her people. Then, perhaps shockingly, King Artaxerxes asks Nehemiah, so what do you want to do about it? And what does the text say? Go back to verse four. So I prayed to the God of heaven. Now, because of how we see Nehemiah operate throughout the rest of the narrative of the book of Nehemiah, I think it is safe to assume that Nehemiah already had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do. This guy seemed to have a plan for just about everything. But what does he do? First, he prayed. He stops himself from just coming out with his request, with his plan in order to pause and consult with the Creator. So here's my question for you to ponder today. Do you default to prayer? Or is prayer just a last resort? Honestly, I'll say, for me, I tend to lean on my own wisdom because I believe, and others do as well, that I've been given the gift of discernment, right? So I kind of have an out, right? But even if that is the case, right, even if I'm right and a lot of those other people are right, all of us certainly me included, would do well to pause and pray to the God of heaven before we act. Wouldn't you agree? I challenge you to do that today. See you tomorrow.
[04:16]
A
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.