I think as I read and study the Bible many of my thoughts on what I’ve read could be titled “A Prayer”. There are so many great prayers that we get to read of ancient people that God has used in mighty ways. They differ in their approach of the throne, and today I’ll take a look at the book of Nehemiah who’s book quickly moves to a mighty prayer that we all could easily put up on a wall and say every morning.

A quick background. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes (at this point I’m glad I’m writing and not speaking because I certainly wouldn’t do that name any justice in correctly saying it!). A cupbearer was the person that would taste all of the King’s food first so that if it was poisoned, the cupbearer would get sick or die and not the king. This role was someone who the king had to trust and had a close relationship with since he had to trust that he had tried the food. Nehemiah was of God’s chosen people and, as the book unfolds, was the one that went back to Jerusalem after the remnant returned from exile to help rebuild the city wall.

Nehemiah is visited by a fellow Jew who had probably traveled four months to deliver his message… a message that would devastate Nehemiah. He (Hanani) tells him in verse 3 of the first chapter that the remnant (or those who returned from exile) are in “great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” In other words, he gives him a complete and honest assessment that nothing is going right. It doesn’t say in the chapter, but clearly Hanani is looking for Nehemiah’s help – probably (Kristal’s thoughts next) because of his position with the King he is hoping he can sway his employer to help the people of Jerusalem.

And what does Nehemiah do? He prays. Not just really quickly. Not just one time. It says in verse four for “days” but a pastor said it was probably for 3-5 months based on the month given in chapter one and then month given in chapter two. Months… he prayed for months. He fasted and prayed. He didn’t take an action, he didn’t try to solve the problem himself first, but instead he prayed first. He wanted to be sure whatever he did it was what God wanted him to do.

That right there…. wow. Such a lesson I need. So often I don’t pray first nor do I pray daily about the same issue again and again.

The prayer spans from verse 5-11. Seven verses. Only one of them actually asks anything of God. The other six remind Nehemiah of who God is (great, awesome, keeps his covenant), confesses his sins and those of the people (such an honest confess it is – “we have acted corruptly against you”), and brings out the history of God (mentions Moses and the reminder that God will bring back his people if they turn to him). Finally, Nehemiah ends with asking the Lord to be attentive to him and to give him success and mercy.

As I continue to grow in my walk with Christ, I know this daily prayer in all times of my life is what I need. To follow Nehemiah’s lead to go to him first. To remind myself in that prayer of who God is, confess my sins, remember the history of how he has always been there for his people… and then to place my needs before him. My reflection is that if I begin my prayers with these first three things, the practical part of my prayer will be formed knowing that God is going to be right there with me. He is attentive. He does want me to have success and mercy. I need to have this daily (often multiple times a day) relationship with him.