Nehemiah Reminds Us How To Pray
Last night I prayed before bedtime. A lot of times, I ask the Holy Spirit to speak me as I open a random page in the bible.
I opened the bible to Nehemiah 1. The first thing I read was the bold letters Rebuilding the Wall. Nehemiah wept when he saw the walls of the holy city of Jerusalem were broken down and unrepaired. His heart cried because his sacred city and its people were left defenseless and vulnerable.
Jerusalem had no real direction. The city lacked leadership and true government and lacked a plan for rebuilding the physical walls. What was worse is that the people of Jerusalem were spiritually broken.
How many of us are rebuilding walls in our live’s that have holes? It could be a marriage, finances, a friendship, a relationship with a loved one, a career, our health or our relationship with God Himself.
When we look what needs to be re-built sometimes it seems overwhelming to the point of tears. We all handle stress differently.
Some of us cry, pout, get angry, get depressed, sleep, eat, snap or even nap… but what should we do?
What did Nehemiah do? Cried, Fasted and Prayed to God. Then he listened to the Holy Spirit and took ACTION.
How did he pray?
1. Praised God
2. Gave Thanks
3. Confessed Sins & Asked for Forgiveness
4. Made a Specific Request
5. Made a Commitment to God & Listened for Direction/Action.
There are so many great lessons in this passage.
I just love the part that says: ” Seemingly impossible tasks can be accomplished when God is helping those who honor him and when their efforts are united.” So we must live for God, Include Him in our tasks and work together in harmony to accomplish the so called “impossible” tasks.
Read the actual prayer of Nehemiah, there are many aspects of it that can be applied to almost any situation.
Here is an example of how we could pray today: Oh Lord, God of Heaven, the great awesome God, thank you for the blessings in my life, thank you for loving us the way you do, we confess our sins Lord, please forgive us. My heart cries out to you, and I need your help with ____________. I ask that you please hear my prayer. ( Be specific in request). Please speak to me what actions I should take with this situation that is on my heart.
When we become unfaithful to God, when we pull away, when we get absorbed in our own saddness, anxiety, depression, anger; we too scatter like the people of Jerusalem did. We lose faith, focus and direction. When we keep our eyes focused on God…things seem to turn around for the better.
Yesterday, my girlfriend and I went on a walk. She said to me, “Just two weeks ago you were much different, more worried and anxious about everything. Something has changed in you. What is it? You’re much more positive and calm.”
I’ll tell you what happened. I shifted my focus from trying to figure out my own problems to focusing on how GOD could help me with my problems. But more importantly having faith that God has this under control so I can chill out. Since January, I put my energy into worry. I stopped going to church. I stopped writing. My prayers were panic prayers instead of faithful prayers.
Nevertheless, I kept reaching out to God asking him to take this from me, to direct me, to hear me, to help me. With each prayer, he transformed my outlook, tweaked my plan and gave me hope. HE kept giving me sign, after sign , after sign…that He not only is hearing me but he is helping me. HE assured me with small and bigger signs that HE is fully capable of REBUILDing my broken walls one brick at a time.
God showed himself this week when I got a surprise of $975.00 commission from a realtor who sold a property this week. I had no idea she had her first real estate transaction, it’s been over a year ago that I recruited her to be under me at Nextage. Last week, I kept hearing a whisper of a thought, “Check on Donna.” Then, this week my broker told me she closed her first transaction last week, and I will be getting a check for $975.00. This was further confirmation that He is hearing my prayers and that HE will always take care of me as long as I am faithful to Him.
When you’re tired and you can’t go on….remember this scripture:
Matthew 11:28
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest
God can give you peace when nobody else can…Complain to God not people. He understands and will help you.
Nehemiah 1
New International Version (NIV)
Nehemiah’s Prayer
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani,one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnantthat had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedlytoward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gatherthem from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentiveto the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favorin the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Discussion & Thoughts:
1. What broken walls are there in your life that you need God’s help repairing?
2. Are you greiving a situation or brooding over something you have not handed fully over to God?
3. Apply the principles of Nehemiah’s prayer to your life:
1. Praise God 2. Give Thanks 3. Confessed Sins & Ask for Forgiveness 4. Make a Specific Request
5. Make a Commitment to God to serve Him and Trust him. 6. Then, Listen for His Direction/Action.
Shea Brewer
I have a passion and compassion for people, and I love YHWH ( God) with all my heart and soul. It is my higher calling to share the teachings and love of Jesus (Yahshua) through: writing, praying, teaching and public speaking. In the Mighty name of our Messiah, through the Holy Spirits help, I passionately help set captives free from strongholds. Together with His Power, we destroy the enemy and his schemes. This frees you to live a purposeful, joyful and fulfilling life for Christ.