When I think of Biblical characters who exhibited the kind of ambition described by William Carey, my mind goes to Nehemiah who experienced a holy ambition for God and his home of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was living in exile during the Babylonian captivity of Israel, but he had risen to a position of influence and trust to the King and when he heard that the great city of Jerusalem was in ruins (Nehemiah 1:3), he prayed and then asked big.

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 fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.

Nehemiah 2:4-5

Nehemiah received permission to do the work, but he also received the funds and materials to complete the task.

The book of Nehemiah describes in great detail how the walls were repaired and the gates of the city restored, but it all started because one man responded to the need in prayer and action to actually build the walls.

Nehemiah did not give up. Even when he and the people of Israel faced significant obstacles from various adversaries, he pushed forward and in just 52 days, the walls were restored.

What task has God called you to do? What stirs up excitement in your life for the good of others? Remember the words of Carey – “Ask great things from God; attempt great things for God.”