Love That Never Fails

74. Humble Prayer

How is your prayer life? Sometimes we don't seem to have a lot of time to set aside to pray —we can easily find many things to occupy all our waking moments! However, at this pivotal time in history, prayer is more crucial than ever! Perhaps it's time to get serious and set aside some time for coming before the Lord, perhaps on behalf of your family or nation, as Nehemiah did so long ago.

While we don't know exactly how long Nehemiah prayed before going to the King of Persia to outline the plight of the Jews, we know it was 'some days' and perhaps around four months. There is much that we can learn from the content of this prayer that is recorded in chapter 1:

"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, 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.

Isn't it beautiful to see Nehemiah's adoration and praise for God! This is always a great way to start praying, as God deserves all of our praise but it also helps increase our faith as we remind ourselves that He is great —much greater than the size of our problem! Nehemiah reminds God that He is a covenant keeping God, a God who loves His people. He comes in a humble way confessing His sins:

"I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

Not only does Nehemiah confess his sin, he speaks on behalf of his people the Israelites. Admitting our sin as we come before God in prayer is an important step as we humble ourselves before the Lord. We must never take for granted the fact that Jesus died for us on the cross, taking all our sins on His body and suffering the punishment that we deserved.

"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

Nehemiah also reminds God of His own word given to Moses. This is a very powerful way to pray! When we know Gods promises, we too can pray them!

"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to 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 favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king."
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1:5-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nehemiah concludes his prayer by reminding God that the people he is representing before the king, belong to Him. Now he is onto the topic we would refer to as supplication. He asks for God's favour as he personally is doing something about the problem and Nehemiah knows he would be ineffective in his own strength.

You might like to use Nehemiah's prayer as a guide for your own praying! Whatever your situation might be, you can be sure that He will hear you!

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for being here to hear my prayers each day. I praise You for the amazing God that You are:

"Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children—
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the Lord,
all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord,
all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:1-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thank You for loving me and forgiving my sins. I am so sorry that I have fallen into temptation. Thank You Jesus for dying for me —by Your blood I am righteous in the Father's eyes! I choose to turn around and live the way You want me to.

Lord there are many things I want to bring before You now .............................. I pray You will answer my prayers according to Your will and grant me Your favour.

For Your glory,
Amen.