Nehemiah 1:4,
“and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Prayer is not
some religious rabbit’s foot that one rubs when all other sources of
help have been exhausted. Prayer is to play an active role in every
aspect of our lives. We are admonished, “Pray without
ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). Our Lord encouraged prayer by
His life, “he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and
there prayed” (Mark 1:35), as well as His lips, “And he spake
a parable . . . that men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1).
Prayer is for every season of life. The book of Nehemiah is an
excellent example of this great truth.
(I) The Prayer
of Distress - 1:4,6&11
In just a
matter of moments the merriment of one’s heart can be replaced by
misery. Nehemiah’s life of ease is shattered by a visit from a
bearer of bad news. This is not a truth reserved just for this young
captive, but its pain is felt by all of Adam’s race. Just like the
Patriarch Job, servants line up to bear the distasteful news to each
of us. Distressed for a people and a place, Nehemiah turned to
heaven for an answer to earth’s problems. Before he sought the ear
of an earthly king, he would seek the ear of the Heavenly King.
(II) The Prayer
of Discernment – 2:4
In answer to
Nehemiah’s prayer, God gives Artaxerxes, the king, a sensitive and
sympathetic spirit. Nehemiah finds himself in need of discernment
when the King said, “For what dost thou make request?” Before
conversing with this king, he must consult another King. Nehemiah
knew that he needed discernment for his life and his lips. Solomon
knew this great principle when he sought wisdom over wealth and
longevity.
(III) The
Prayer of Deliverance – 4:4&9
Nehemiah soon
discovered that the ways of the Lord are met by warfare with the
enemy. Would Nehemiah turn to his own ingenuity and leaned on the
arm of the flesh? No! Nehemiah prayed for deliverance from the
enemy’s cruel words (vs.3) and their conspiring ways
(vs.8). The God that had directed was a God that could deliver!
Jesus prayed this prayer for each of His disciples, “I pray not
that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). Our security is
not in self, but in the Sovereign!
(IV) The Prayer
of Dedication – 9:4,9,27&28
Spiritual
growth soon revealed to the hearts of God’s children that the enemy
was not only outward, but also inward. They must not only do battle
with Satan, but they must contend with self. Broken over past sins,
present sins, and possible sins, they pray a prayer of dedication.
The distress that they face can be attributed to the waywardness of
their fathers. Thus they desire a “sure covenant” (vs.38)
with the True and Living God. Like the Psalmist David, they seek His
guidance, “he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
name's sake” (Ps. 23:3).
(V) The Prayer
of Devotion – 11:17
Prayer is more
than just supplication. It is a means of salutation. This truth is
seen in the model prayer, when Jesus instructed the disciples to
pray thus, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name”
Matthew 6:9). Prayer is a means whereby we cultivate our worship
of God. Prayer is not just the hand of man reaching up to the hand
of God, but it is the heart of man bonding with the heart of God. It
is rejoicing over a relationship as well as riches.
Prayer is a
privilege to be used in every season of life. It should never become
just a plea in crisis, but rather a pattern of communion. It is the
opportunity to tell God what disturbs and delights the heart.
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